One knock-on is how many Premier League clubs have developed the habit of aiming their wealth at imported players who are still below the very elite in the world. Dietmar Hamman said this week that he would struggle to place even two Premier League players in the world’s top 20. Another more contentious point is how Barcelona and Real Madrid, largely through the individual selling of television rights, have been able to out-bid the British clubs for the world’s very best players.