Football, Spain, and economic reality

For people who don't follow football (soccer), there are a handful of "super clubs" out there, clubs who routinely win their country's league, routinely play in the Champions League (a yearly international tournie that pit the best of the previous year's European-based teams against each other), and routinely set new records in transfer fees (the cost of buying a player from another club).

To get an idea who these super clubs are, look at this: www.ibtimes.com/highest-payrolls-sports-psg-real-madrid-la-dodgers-arsenal-list-average-annual-1931955

That's average wages for players. When it comes to international football, transfer fees matter, too. To that end: www.sportskeeda.com/football/stats-clubs-spent-most-transfer-fees-last-10-years

Those numbers are in pounds.

Now, straight up there's little question who the true super clubs are: Real Madrid, Barcelona, PSG, ManU, Man City, Bayern Munich, and Chelsea. And there a few just on the edge (like Arsenal, Liverpool, Atletico Madrid, and a couple of Italian clubs who never quite get over the edge).

The first two are in Spain (obviously). And most would allow that they are the most powerful clubs in the world, with the biggest fan base, the most impressive histories, and the ability to attract the very best players, even away from other super clubs. They are, more or less, the preferred destinations for every great player.

And I think it's interesting--to say the least--that they're in Spain, the EU nation with one of the highest unemployment rates across time. Even more interesting--to me--is the continual court battles that superstar players in Spain continue to have with the Spanish government.

Messi: www.espnfc.us/barcelona/story/2908343/lionel-messi-and-father-get-21-month-prison-term-in-tax-case-but-set-to-avoid-jail

Ronaldo: www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/2335381/cristiano-ronaldo-jail-tax-probe-fraud-allegations-real-madrid-football-leaks/

Mascherano: www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3410282/Javier-Mascherano-sentenced-year-prison-1-15m-tax-fraud-fined-625-000-Barcelona-star-set-avoid-jail-time.html

And now Neymar: www.espnfc.us/spanish-primera-division/story/3064974/neymar-will-stand-trial-on-corruption-charges-over-transfer-to-barcelona

There are other examples going farther back in time. And true enough, stars in other countries have had problems. But it seems far more common in Spain, for footballers to have these tax-related problems. In that regard, one would think the Spanish government might be less likely to pursue this stuff, given how much revenue these clubs generate. Or maybe it's a case of the clubs (and players) already getting all kinds of tax breaks and the government getting annoyed that they're still cheating.

I don't know. But for me, there's a weird sort of disconnect for these court battles in a country whose economy always seems to be teetering.  

Thoughts?