Chelsea FC signs a Tellytuby - Michael Gyasi
Barclays Premier League outfit, Chelsea FC has signed the 11 year old Michael Gyasi to League Two football club, Northampton Town for an undisclosed fee. The wonder kid has been dazzling the coaches and scouts in equal measures with his sublime skills. Gyasi
has been the standout performer for the club’s academy of excellence for the past three years and his exploits have not gone unnoticed.
Northampton’s youth academy chief, Trevor Gould has shown delight on the latest development, "Not only is this a superb opportunity for Michael but it reinforces the quality of player we are bringing both into the club and through our centre of excellence."
He added, "Michael has progressed well and has improved with our coaching, and while we obviously want to produce and keep our best players, when a Premier League club like Chelsea comes knocking then as long as the deal is right for the club, we will never
stand in a boy’s way.”
The signing of players at such a tender age, often against the will of the parent club has gained strength in recent years. With clubs purchasing players at such a young age, one has to wonder if the clubs would be paying kids with candy and chocolates.
This practice of snatching young talents had forced the fiery UC Palermo President, Maurizio Zamparini to label the English clubs as ‘Pirates’, last year. Although, the player in this case won’t be forced to switch countries, still a change of such magnitude
can be too big for a boy who is not even into his teens.
It might be argued that a kid of Gyasi’s age should be living with his parents and enjoying his early days with his friends, not moving into boarding schools. The ethics for such practices are highly debatable. Also, the impact of media pressure the kid
will receive at such a tender age, will be almost impossible to discount.
In 2009, UEFA President, Michael Platini had shown his intent of drafting a regulation whereby players would be forced to sign their first professional contract with their parent clubs. In the wake of this transfer, calls for such regulation are bound to
rise.
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