4. Price
The
7.5 million Euros Galatasaray paid to get their hands on Sneijder does not seem to be that much in today's transfer world, but it is not exactly pocket change. Manchester United have
reportedly spent £15 million to acquire Wilfried Zaha from Crystal Palace, and the money not spent on Sneijder has at least helped pay for that transfer. Although not the biggest transfer fee, that money could be better spent elsewhere on players that will hopefully increase in value over time. Sneijder will not be going up in value for a potential resale in a couple of years, so United would have had to hope they would get every penny out of the Dutch playmaker. It is not just the transfer fee that makes this signing unappealing, but the money that would have to be spent on his wages. Manchester United are one of the few teams who can actually afford wages like this, but that does not mean it would be a wise investment. Even though it was expected that Sneijder would lower his wage demands, United would still be looking at, in excess of 100k a week. The last thing Ferguson wants, is to have an ageing player, who might not perform to standards, sitting on a massive contract, that they cannot get out of. Ferguson will always be able to attract big players, and when those big players come in, they will demand big wages, so it is smart of the United boss to make sure the wage bill has enough space for the next high profile signing.