Back in the Sixties, Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention released an album called ‘We’re Only In It For The Money’ that satirized the flower power movement, suggesting somewhat more cynical motives than love and peace.

In football, it now seems that the big names are gravitating away from the Man Utds and the Liverpools towards Real Madrid and AC Milan.

Of course, the players themselves are making all the right noises, “dream move”, “boyhood dream”, “playing alongside legends” - you know the stuff.

However, more cynical motivation does spring to mind however for this apparently sudden sea change in where the big players want to play.

Firstly, the strength of the Euro against the UK Pound means that no longer is it a guaranteed money earner to come to the Premier League.

And secondly, and even more critically, the recently introduced 50% top rate of tax on earnings over £150,000 has severely impacted the take home earnings of top footballers.

So, all of a sudden, moving to the top clubs on mainland Europe is five times as attractive as it was last season.  And for the top players already on the continent - the Premier League looks just a little less glossy.

Only In It For The Money? Perhaps.