we paid 40m for someone who wouldn't cause problems to the squad in terms of minutes instead of paying 50m+ for someone who would screw the whole dynamics (who left us because of this very same problem) how can you not see the difference.
I don't see how a player type that we need and is quality will have a negative effect on the whole dynamics.
We need a midfielder that can create from deep and go back to a different system with Griezmann signed as the 442 will not suit him as a RM.
Is Rakitic that kind of a midfielder? No. Aleña? No. Paulinho? No. Arthur? Maybe, but comes in January and we need quality now.
Also, we paid 40m for a 29 year old bench option that had failed in Europe before.
If someone gets unhappy(Rakitic), then play better.
So there's your difference.
The prices are not linked.
It is possible to think 40m for Paulinho is too much and still think paying 50-60m for Thiago is a risk... based on his injury record and/or taking into account other players in team.
Except MD/Sport are claiming they don't want to pay more than 40/50m because he left years ago. No mention of any injury concerns.