IT’S not the years, honey. It’s the mileage. As Cesc Fabregas shuffles into semi-retirement at Monaco, you can almost imagine him mouthing Harrison Ford’s famous line from Indiana Jones.
Historically, clubs have always factored a player’s age into his value. Under Arsene Wenger, Arsenal famously refused to offer anyone over 30 more than a one-year extension.
Yet as the decline of Fabregas demonstrates, a more sensible way to assess longevity is to allot every footballer 15 peak years before wear and tear take their toll.
The Spaniard made his Arsenal de...