Who else thinks that football has gone nuts?

In the 1979, the English FA was the first to get to the million mark in player transfer dealings. His name was Trevor Francis. Today, the cash paid for him now seems like chicken change.

Fast forward almost 40 years later, and we have seen the hundred million mark broken, and twice. First it was Paul Pogba returning to his boyhood club and just a few days ago, a player who is being touted as the most likely player to break Lionel Messi's and Cristiano Ronaldo's stranglehold at the pinnacle of world football, Neymar Da Silva Santos, Jnr. How much did he cost?

€222,000,000 and counting.

Nigerians will not even like to attempt a conversion of this to our local currency, because there definitely will be some heart-wrenching zeros involved.

The beautiful thing about the digit, 0, zero, is that it can reduce everything to nothingness, even if it ends up being the most recurring digit in a number. A need can be reduced if the right amount of zeros is added to its monetary value, and even though it is a NEED, it becomes non-existent. It stops being a problem once zeros enter the equation.

This is fast becoming true of the footballing world. Clubs are willing to pen down some serious zeros on paper to acquire that stadium, coach, or player. Zeros that were TAKEN from somewhere - in most cases, from the loyal fans who have to part with a certain number of zeros to attend matches and acquire club paraphernalia - and used to settle what they consider a need. This is all fun and games for the fans who like to support the happening club, because life is not that serious.

Enter world hunger.

Wait.

Before we talk about world hunger, we have to consider something that seems mundane, but with another look, a new angle to it may be discovered. Among the things that zeros can alter, good things aren't left out. Even in math – a number can be reduced to nothing when it is multiplied by a zero. A very good thing with a lot of zeros attached to it can render it obsolete, especially if there is something with lesser zeros attached which can serve as a substitute. Are you thinking what I'm thinking? Let's move on.

As has been emphasized over and over, zeros reduce anything to nothingness, and hunger is not an exception. A few zeros more, and someone would not have died of starvation. A few zeros less, Neymar, Barcelona and Paris St Germain would still be financially stable.

A few zeros more, that fan could have been able to go see his favourite club play. A few zeros less, and a switch up on effort, trophies would still be won by the football clubs. To think that such an insane amount of zeros is being erased off one's books and written into another's with all these things being reduced to nothingness is a cause for concern.

Even football stakeholders are afraid for the future of their sport, because just as many zeros can solve a need, they can bring death to all.  And to think that world hunger is just one of the things that all the zeros being thrown around in football could reduce to nothingness.

But then again, it's not just a sport. It is a business. What do I know?

Article written by Chimamkpam Umeh-Saboyo

My Name Is Chimamkpam Umeh-Saboyo, Geology Undergrad and aspiring writer. I love the Earth and everything contained. My interests span every subject imaginable and unimaginable, but my strengths reside within my solitude. God Lover and struggling Saint. In my mind I'm the best in the world.