Another thing, world record transfer fee in June 2016 was 100M€ (Pogba was sold for 105M in August). Most expensive CB at that time was David Luiz and Rio Ferdinand's transfer from Leeds to United in 2002 was still second on that list. A month after we bought Umtiti City paid around 55M€ for John Stones but that was a transfer inside EPL, where prices are always inflated, especially when it comes to British players.
Not defending Umtiti's 60m clause in the least, because we obviously messed up on that account, but I'm guessing these low clauses are mostly down to good, tough negotiation skills from the agents.
Both true.
1. when we signed Umtiti, a world's record fee was around 100M, so his buyout clause was around 60% of a world record fee.
Nobody knew that the prices will go up for more than 200% in 1 year and that a world record will be 222M now, and now Umtiti's buyout is not at 60% of a world record, but at 30% of a world record.
So, if we lose out on him, inflation screwed us.
But, on the other hand, we did EXACTLY the same with Griezmann. When AM signed his contract, his buyout clause was the same as a current world record fee (100M).
AM also didn't know that the prices will go up for more than 200% and that 100M for Griezmman in 2018' will be the same as only 50M in 2015 or 2016'.
They have put a world record fee-buyout on him and yet, they will lose him for "peanuts" this summer.
So, if Umtiti will leave for Utd, Utd will do to us EXACTLY the same what we did with Griezmann to AM.
So, it will even out, to some extent.
2. the other thing about agents, yes, some players DON'T want to sign huge buyouts since they want to have other reasonable "options".
On the other hand, it is strange that Real is managing to lock down all their players with 400 and 800M buyout clauses since always.
RM is either brainwashing their players or is forcing them to sign such contracts in a take it or leave it negotiating way.