I think Juve did a similar thing but it is used in a similar way to Real M's b-side. Players are put there to get competative games under their belt and they get the pick of the good players of that team.
Talk about a guy who wants to own the world and you come up with Murdoch. He owns shares with Leeds, Man City and offered to buy Man U. Edwards (the nob) accepted on the spot (anything for a quick buck) but the government would not allow due to monnopaly laws (thank god). It's true that football is not about the fans anymore who have turned in to consumers. Business men or shareholders own the club now not fans and this has resulted in the strife for profit. Edwards for example, said after the Van Nistelrooy buy that they would have to sell a striker to get another player as football is a business and at the end of the day the club needs to balance its books. Yep, the chairman of the richest club in the world who have the highest sponserhip, attendance and following in the PL is moaning about balancing the books.
