As reported moments ago by myself on The72, Manchester City have confirmed the signing of young prodigy Patrick Roberts from Championship side Fulham. Roberts, whilst being highly rated as a player, only made 17 appearances in total last season for The Cottagers with only two of these 17 appearances being starts for the club. Despite this relatively scarce exposure to regular football, the Premier League giants have reached out with their considerable cheque book and signed the 18-year old prodigy.
Whilst Manchester City fans will no doubt be rejoicing at the capture of such a shining gem of a player, this sense of joy is not universally shared across the football-supporting spectrum with some observers arguing that it is merely a plot to comply with the forthcoming requirements on home-grown players in a squad, a measure to be phased in over four years from 2016. Reaction to Roberts’ transfer has been making some waves on Twitter:
From an observant Fulham fan with cutting sarcasm…
Kit Symons has stated that he did everything to keep Patrick Roberts at Fulham. Not quite, could have actually played him once in a while!
— john o'connell (@johnoconnell6) July 19, 2015
…to someone with a brutally honest appraisal.
Patrick Roberts joins city thats a young player that won't get a chance should have stayed at Fulham so he could play every week
— northeast Gunner (@andybyrski) July 19, 2015
From what many are thinking…
Homegrown policy having a reverse effect. Instead of playing regularly for Villa and Fulham, Delph and Roberts now may not play at all.
— David Frank (@DEEE_EFFF) July 19, 2015
…to what some are actually saying.
@SkySportsNewsHQ @MCFC @patrick7roberts @FulhamFC what a farce. Fulham after money. City after English players. Roberts career will nosedive
— Mike (@geeemondo) July 19, 2015
From continuing the brutality of honesty…
Manchester City sign another english bench warmer in Patrick Roberts from Fulham he's got great potential but will we see it now ? #epl
— David (@BD_Ashby) July 19, 2015
…to concluding the honest brutality of what many see as true.
https://twitter.com/willvinson97/status/622682245116096512
Whatever view people take on this transfer, getting away from the burgeoning reality that some see it more in terms of a sham is difficult. Whilst Manchester City fans may well be jubilant and rejoicing in the street, it is safe to say that this sentiment is not felt universally.
