We already know for a fact that the club was trying to sell Pereira using dodgy means where some of the fee would be kept hidden, it wouldn't be a surprise if the club actually managed it, particularly given all the dodgy goings on that the owners were involved in with our finances.
Just on the face of it there's no way even the dumbest negotiators thought a guy with Pereira's record with us was only worth 17m. Based on Benrahma and Buendia he was worth far more than that on his championship record alone, let alone before getting 17 goals and assists in the premier.
Plus he went to Ah Hilal, who overpay for just about everyone. I mean look at the contracts they hand out, are they really going to quibble over a few million with us? Somehow they of all clubs get the best of us?
To my memory he demanded to leave and nobody else came in for him offering those types of wages. West Ham were interested, but the wages were like £45kpw under UK tax law or £100kpw tax free. MP said he'd only go to Saudi Arabia. So that was that. We were forced.
This has never made any sense, Al Hilal overpay for almost everyone. Why is Pereira the only exception? Why is it rich clubs need to pay such big transfer fees? On this logic teams would just say to players, we'll give you a few million on the signing bonus if you refuse to play.