Now you see me...

On Monday 31 August, Northern Ireland international footballer George McCartney was sold from one football team in southern England to another in the north. The was “undisclosed” but believed to be around £6 million.

Players - Now where are you going?

This buying and selling of players has led some people to compare football to slavery. Fans can only laugh at this idea, given the astronomic wages players are paid.

The recent slavery debate was sparked by the wish of Manchester United’s Portugese star, Cristiano Ronaldo, to leave the club and join Real Madrid, even though his contract hadn’t expired. “If you have a contract then you have to finish it,” commented the world’s greatest ever player, Pelé. Manchester United refused to let Ronaldo go, as was their right.

Which brings us back to George McCartney, whose transfer annoyed me intensely. Why? Partly, because it was my club, West Ham United who sold him, and the 27-year-old McCartney is a good, consistent footballer. He played in every game last season and was voted runner up by the fans in the player of the year award.

McCartney joined West Ham from Sunderland two years ago on a four-year contract for just £600,000. So the club has made a handsome profit by selling him back to Sunderland for ten times as much.

McCartney has now signed a five-year contract with his new team. Explaining the move, he said: "I had two great seasons with West Ham … but for personal reasons alone, this is the right move for me. My wife, Elaine, didn't settle in London, and Sunderland have offered me the chance to return to the north-east, where I spent ten years after joining the club as a youngster."

Sounds plausible, you say. So why am I so hot under the collar? Well, here’s why. Just six weeks ago, McCartney signed a new five-year contract with West Ham, making clear his desire to stay in London. I’ll repeat that: a new five-year contract.

I don’t want to criticize McCartney too much without having all the details of his situation, but surely he knew six weeks ago, when he signed the new contact, that his wife hadn’t settled in London.

Keep your eye on the ball — not on the pay cheque

"We had no intention of selling George McCartney," explained West Ham CEO Scott Duxbury. "But it became clear ... that he was desperate to move on for family reasons. Once Sunderland came in with an improved offer, we decided the deal was in the best interests of all parties."

In other words, money rules. Contracts, loyalty and the fans are all irrelevant. So, clearly, was the West Ham manager, Alan Curbishley. On Wednesday, he resigned, saying decisions were made "without involving me".

Football is indeed a funny business.

West Ham Mascot: Football's a funny business