Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
The football season is over, punctuated perfectly by Barcelona's triumph against Manchester United in Rome - or so we thought.
Of course rumours of high profile transfers was expected but nothing compared to the shock waves that have spread since Real Madrid spent £134 million (BD82.37 million) in the space of three days. The two players in question are Kaka and Ronaldo and with more on the way club president Ramon Calderon has promised.
If it is to be David Villa from Valencia then they will have three attacking players to rival that of any in the world. Calderon though might do well to remember that it was the midfield of Iniesta and Xavi that destroyed United and not the more famous 'three amigos' of Eto'o, Henry and Messi.
The Catalan giants are probably looking on with some interest to the goings on at their fiercest rivals but I doubt very much they are worried about the changes in personnel. It is likely they will themselves enter the merry-go-round at some point and it is equally likely that it will be players of the highest calibre that will be attracted. What player would down the chance to play in such an astonishing side?
United, meanwhile, must be slightly concerned that a player at the peak of his career has chosen to leave and play elsewhere, albeit Real Madrid. Can they be classed as a 'selling club' now? Probably not, but this is the first time it has happened and if Tevez decides to move across the city then there will certainly be gaps to fill.
There is one rumour that Ferguson has made an audacious bid to lure Torres away from Liverpool. The only merit in such a tale is the well reported financial problems the owners are having so any bid of around £50 million would have to be considered. This would, of course, be unthinkable to Liverpool fans and would virtually send the club into freefall in the short term.
It may be that the Scotsman is just trying to deflect attention away from Ronaldo's departure and get up Benitez's nose at the same time.
It is more likely that Benzema from Lyon will be the first replacement despite the French club saying they will not be selling - they always say that and always sell at the last minute after getting what they believe is the best price for their most valuable assets, as was the case with Michael Essien to Chelsea.
What is more worrying for Ferguson is the speculation about Vidic's future. Whilst it seems inconceivable he would go, nothing is now certain in these crazy times.
I have never known a time when so much speculation was going around about players from one of the biggest clubs in the world, if not the biggest.
Chelsea are staying quiet for now but will not remain so for long, I am sure. But since Madrid and Manchester City have come into play the London club's money is not the force it once was. Peter Kenyon will desperately be hoping that the embarrassment of failing to get Robinho last year will not be repeated.
Where all these clubs are getting their money from remains a mystery as it is not just the amazing transfer fees that are being paid out, it is the salaries that come with it? One thing is certain though, and that is the average fans will end up paying for some of it in increased ticket prices and more outrageous charges for club kit.
If there was any doubt that football had lost its mind then the past few weeks, and the rest of the summer, removes the last remaining element of sanity and trying to put it into context is becoming almost impossible.
Using money they don't have to pay players who do not really need it at the expense of the watching public does not sound like the best and most ethical business plan in the world ... but then again, when did football ever care about being that?
