Wenger: transfer supermarket

Arsene Wenger has hit out at the current football transfer market, claiming it is akin to a 'supermarket'. The Arsenal boss believes rumours of £135 million for one player are ridiculous; and the £32.5 million spent on Robinho is a sign of the times.

Wenger continued: "Football is not a supermarket, we have to all understand that.

"You cannot come out and say 'we pay £250,000-a-week to Ronaldo and £135million', when the player has a six-year contract with Manchester United. It is not possible or acceptable.

"There is money in the game, and I take it in a positive way - but the football bodies have to make sure that money is ruled properly and used well for the ethics of the game.

"I always did fight for my whole life for the players to make as much money as possible, but you also have to respect what football is.

"It came out from the roots of the country through local communities who identified themselves with their team, and we have to be careful not to destroy that."