SHIKI, Saitama Pref. — As the European transfer window slams shut for another summer, Omiya Ardija's Croatian defender Mato Neretljak can afford himself a wry smile.
In the past three months, Real Madrid has shattered the world record fee twice in the space of a week, legions of star names have signed up for Manchester City's petro dollars, and a host of deals have been struck to pour even more cash into players' bank accounts all over the continent.
And with every transfer comes a familiar refrain: "It's not about the money."