Milan's summer signing of Zlatan Ibrahimovic has sparked debate over whether a flambuoyant, temperamental player such as this is worth his weight in one of Europe's biggest and most successful sides.
A similar argument is made of players such as Robinho, Dimitar Berbatov or almost every African/South American winger you can think of. By placing these gifted yet inconsistent players into your team do you compromise performances on the pitch, relations in the dressing room, and the ultimate success of the club? If so, do these players deserve the often enormous wages that they receive, simply for being a marquee signing?
My opinions have swayed back and forth over the years on this issue, but ultimately I can't ignore one crucial detail. Football is about entertainment. As a fan, you watch the games and attend the stadiums in the hope of being entertained. Watching a good game is of course the primary source of entertainment, but if this is achieved with style, trickery and a sense of fun, all the better. Why do Arsenal fans pay more than Chelsea or United to watch the games? Because they get more entertainment for their money.
Those players who entertain the most, therefore, get a bigger slice of the pie. The wages of Ibrahimovic, Berbatov and Robinho are based on the fact that, out of nowhere, they can go on a run beating seven players, play a killer pass without looking or volley one in from 30 yards and just shrug it off. Can Michael Owen do this, can Rooney or Torres, even? I wouldn't bet on it.
There is a qualifier, of course. Players with bags of tricks have to also be good at football. But more often than not, they are. Ibrahimovic scored 16 in 29 in his season at Barcelona, and has a career record of 147 in 300. Berbatov averages 1 in 2 and Robino 1 in 3. I don't care who you are, these are outstanding figures. The only issue is that, for the rest of the time, they appear to do nothing. But do they? In Man United's title-winning season, Berbatov covered more ground than Tevez. Ibrahimovic makes around 10 assists a season. For all the times they appear to be sulking around the halfway line, it is arguable that these guys are just biding their time before the next flash of genius makes a telling contribution. If they were defensive midfielders, they would be celebrated for approaching the game in this way.
I fear that my own beloved Hammers may realise the benefits of flair players too late, having sold Alessandro Diamanti for a third of the price we paid. Inconsistent he certainly was, but this is a player who got the fans talking, pulled incredible moments out of nothing and showed a fervent, if sometimes reckless, joy for the game. You can't replace that kind of impact easily. Certainly not with Kieron Dyer.
Football is a sport that is placing more and more emphasis on results, leading to a rise of teams in the Bolton, Stoke and Blackburn mould. They probably won't go down, but they probably won't make you happy either. However the game also needs to be entertaining in order to sustain its massive TV audiences, making players who can provide that spark of creativity essential. Perhaps it's only the bigger clubs who can afford the real mavericks, but the opportunity to play them is one that should be grasped with both hands. They are what football is all about. Now, if only we could find a couple who were English.
