The football world, or at least those aware of every little financial deal going, are split this weekend over the transfer of a 14-year-old boy.
Bolton Wanderers are in dire need of financial support as a takeover progresses. They’ve been put into administration, they’re being bought out and fave a 12-point deduction next season.
Having been relegated to League One, it’s a trying time for the Trotters but they’re hoping to find direction over the course of the next week or so.
One player who will not be with them on the ride is 14-year-old Daniel Ogwuru. He’s a talented young striker currently being eyed by the England Under 15 set up. He was the subject of a £100,000 bid from Manchester City in the winter window, but it was rejected.
Now they’re in administration, City have come back in for him. This time they’ve struck a deal with the administrators, offering the full fee as well as add ons that could see that figure rise to over £1m if he makes the first team. Reports suggest they didn’t need to make the gesture as he could have left for free.
That’s disputed by some who feel that Bolton would still have been due a development fee, but opinion is split. Have the Premier League winners showed benevolence towards their neighbours, paying a sum they didn’t need to, or have they picked over the carcass and thrown a few crumbs down as payment?
You can read both sides of the argument below.
Why do they even need him, they will only loan him out. Greed greed and greed. I hope to god my team are never turned into something similar. Kills it for me. You need the lows to appreciate the highs.
— Cafc since 1984 (@MatmillerCAFC) June 14, 2019
My mates lad was at Bolton, he says this lad knows where the back of the net is and his father turned down offers from several clubs, brilliant gesture from City.
— City On A Card (@CityOnACard1) June 15, 2019
https://twitter.com/kinradekin/status/1139770800477806592
Nice Gesture to help the team out 👍👌
The media won't mention this though
— The Usurper (@papomcfc) June 14, 2019
They could of got the lad for nothing because Bolton are in admin, great gesture from City to pay for him, they didn't need to.
— Ant.S.😎 (@AsSowter) June 15, 2019
Well played? Fantastic opportunity for the lad first identified by BWFC. Generosity would have been, here’s the 100k you need, give us first refusal if you ever want to sell. Crumbs from the master’s table I’m afraid.
— Philip Shortland (@PhilipShortland) June 15, 2019
Jeez we’re in a crazy world when the wealthiest team in the history of sport buys a 14-year-old from a bankrupt club and gets applauded for it 😂
— Hayden Meikle (@HaydenMeikle) June 15, 2019
Yet they wont get any praise for this.
Well done @ManCity— HammeR (@hammercardo) June 14, 2019
It is totally pathetic that alleged Manchester City fans are coming on here and actually PRAISING that club for being ever so generous in paying £100,000 for a 14 year old kid who we’ll probably never hear of again. That is absolute peanuts for City. The whole oil generated ethos of a football club owned by a bunch of, let’s be honest and face it, nasty antisemites is pretty damning and shocking. The club is rotten from the top down and is run by a bunch of cheats. A big ban from European Competion is coming bearing the Financial fraud in mind. £100,000 is sod all to these horrible people.