Michael de Leeuw. 39 years old. ₷1,010,002. When the news broke that Cherkasy had dropped over a million SVC on a striker who’s closer to his pension than his prime, the market collectively gasped. My previous report labeled him as 'deadwood' being cleared out by Lanús, but I’ve been doing some digging, pet, and the veteran is making me eat my words.

While Lanús manager RoyalCrownAffair was busy doing a victory lap for turning a 71-rated veteran into a massive pile of cash—which he promptly reinvested into 79-rated Michele Castagnetti—Cherkasy manager MisterMendez was quietly placing a huge bet on experience. It’s a massive premium to pay for a player with a market value of just ₷154k, essentially an 'Experience Tax' for a club desperate to stay afloat in Ukraine Division 1.

But here’s the kicker, darlin’: it’s actually working. Despite being called a 'flop' in early season whispers, de Leeuw has already bagged 3 goals in 7 appearances for Cherkasy. In a league where goals are harder to find than a cheap pint in London, that’s a return of one every 2.3 games. He’s currently the main threat in a side that’s fighting for every point, proving that while his legs might be heavy, his finishing is still sharp as a tack.

Make no mistake, Lanús won the business side of this deal. Getting ₷1M for a player who will likely retire within the year is a masterstroke. But for Cherkasy, this wasn't about the balance sheet—it was about survival. If de Leeuw’s goals keep them in the top flight, that million SVC will look like the bargain of the century. Sound, isn't it?