Exactly why so many promising teenagers are fleeing the youth systems of top clubs right now, especially in England.
Agree. It says more about the impatience of some badly run clubs than actually the development of players. It's why you come to a stage where United give up Pogba or Chelsea give up Matic & then buy them back for a much bigger fee, when they already had the player.
Makes no sense to me to do it just because they can afford it. That's one big reason why I think development is not linear & you have to give the right atmosphere & opportunity for youngsters to develop at various stages of their career, at least until 25 if they believe in a player. But I've seen top clubs dilly and dally around & finally either the youngster's career is affected or they end up wasting millions instead of dipping on these talents.
That's why it's a major risk joining clubs especially like Real Madrid or Barcelona early in a player's career. The development of plenty of players from 18-24 have stalled at these clubs. God knows whatever happened to Malcom, Vinicius Junior and Mariano.
EDIT: Of course, there will be some players whom the coaches and staff will know they won't absolutely make it where they'll know by 21-22 where they need not wait further, it's fine to take a decision on them, but there are plenty of talented and borderline cases who have never gotten the opportunity at these clubs.