Why Premier League's sick note stars like Cesc and Nando are a waste of money

Published 23:00 17/07/10

They're three of the finest players in the world with a posse of admiring clubs willing to sign them at the merest hint of a transfer.

Lionel Messi’s current status as the finest footballer on the planet means that Barcelona won’t consider bids – even if the predators are prepared to pay the buy-out figure in Messi’s contract: £208million!

But the debate surrounding the futures of Liverpool’s Fernando Torres and Arsenal’s Cesc Fabregas will reach fever pitch between now and the close of the transfer window at the end of August.

Ironically, events during the World Cup emphasised the issues surrounding our hat-trick of heroes.

Messi may have suffered the curse of the Argentina No.10’s. Nobody wearing that shirt has scored at a World Cup finals since 1986.

But despite his goal drought Messi’s breathtaking creativity and speed of thought and movement were apparent for all to see.

Goals would have added gloss to his World Cup, but even he may not have been able to deliver enough to help the South Americans beat Germany in the last-eight.

Spain ended up as World Champions – but within that glorious campaign two of the Prem’s top players were mere squad men, rather than stalwarts.

Fabregas has been coveted by Barcelona for months – but he couldn’t break into a Spain midfield that dominated by sitting tenants at the Nou Camp: Xavi, Iniesta and Busquets.

Torres’s lack of form after a domestic campaign wrecked by injury undermined his efforts in South Africa. And it all ended in tears for the Liverpool man.

Tears of joy as Spain won the world title.

Tears of frustration and pain as he suffered a thigh-muscle tear after being sent on as a Final substitute in extra-time.

And there lies the key. It was Bob Paisley, the late, great Liverpool manager, who once pointed out: “Players get paid for training as well as turning out in matches. They need to stay fit.”

Wise old Bob expected value for money from his charges – or potential charges – and always checked on their long-term fitness records. If, like Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, you’ve got £60m burning a hole in your pocket, and you’re wondering which superstar to sign this summer, the words of old Bob should be a deafening alarm call.

Just look at the case of the injury ravaged Torres.

Nobody can doubt his goal-scoring pedigree. When he does get out on the field – between lay-offs – you can bet he’ll score goals.

But the worrying aspect for Liverpool – and Chelsea and Manchester City as they debate signing him – is that season by season he’s missing more and more games.

Torres has been at Anfield for three campaigns.

In 2007-08 he played in 46 of Liverpool’s 59 fixtures. That’s a 78 per cent record.

The following season that dipped to 69 per cent – he played in just 38 of Liverpool’s 55 fixtures.

Last season Torres’s numbers got even worse. He played in 32 matches out of a club total of 56. That’s just 57 per cent.

In Spain during his days with Atletico Madrid there were already concerns about Torres’s injury problems. Those problems appear to be inexorably getting worse.

Then there’s Arsenal’s brilliant midfielder Cesc Fabregas.

Of course there are times when Arsene Wenger rests his talisman. But three seasons ago he turned out in 45 games – 78 per cent of Arsenal’s total tally.

In 2008-09 that dipped to 54 per cent. And last season, which saw him suffer a fractured leg, he was limited to 65 per cent.

Now look at Messi.

In a 57-game Barcelona campaign last season he made 52 appearances – an impressive 91 per cent.

The year before it was 82 per cent. And even in 2007-08, when he was only just emerging as a player, he appeared in 66 per cent.

The message is clear. If you’ve money to burn and are looking for a superstar, buy the one that’s fit for purpose: Lionel Messi.

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