Turk
ManUre spending is based on the calculation that ManUre are going to receive significant increase in TV deal in next couple of years. ManUre might have mis-calculated the value of TV revenue after the upcoming on expires, but a team of their financial clout and fanbase, should be able absorb the risk even if those two youngsters dont exactly pay dividends.
Nonetheless, I don't think it is wise to pay crazy sums to teenager kids. Not because they are not very good. But I think the growth prospects of young player is extremely hard to predict, and the guys you thought were going to be the best, may not pan out to be such, but merely extremely good players. Look at the last cycle. Del Piero, Ronaldo, and Raul, were three biggest phenom in the game, but they were outstaged by relatively unknown prospects like Figo, Zizou and Rivaldo. Regarding youngsters, its all about scouting, and network. Forget reputation. I think Gourcuff for Milan could be every bit as good as, if not better than, Nani and Anderson, and yet Milan got him fraction of those two's value.