Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Football transfer season: Part I

The football season is over. I have to wait till August for my weekend dose of football. In the meantime, it is that time of the football season when huge, and sometimes, obscene amounts of money exchange hands. Yes sir…it is the transfer season.

Every year we have these transfer sagas. They stretch on and on. Even after the transfer window shuts they refuse to go away. So let us have a look at some of the sagas that could take place (or are already in place) this year.

1. Christiano Ronaldo and Real Madrid:

Madrid we all know is in dire straits. They lost their last 5 games of the season, were humiliated by Barcelona at the Bernabeu, and were whitewashed by Liverpool in the UCL. They are no longer the power houses that they were in Europe. They still remain Europe and Spain’s most successful team but for the last 5 seasons have looked completely out of sorts.

Now that Florentino Perez is back at the helm, we can expect a new galactico era. He wants big names at the White House. Ronaldo’s desire to play for Real is well-documented. Does he want to go? Does he want to stay at United? Is there an agreement already in place with him and United? No one knows. Honestly, I would want him to go. All this transfer drama is simply not the worth it. Sell him and get the £70 million.

Likely Outcome: Won’t go

2. Carlos Tevez and Manchester City, Liverpool, Totenham, Inter Milan, Real Madrid:

This is a transfer saga that United could have done without. Tevez has been one of the best performers over the last 2 seasons. His dedication and effort for United cannot be debated. But as Sir Alex Ferguson put it, United is dealing with a company and not a club.

Tevez’s economic rights are owned by a company. They are asking United to cough up some £25 million for him, which is an obscene amount. Negotiations are on and so on. But Tevez himself does not want to stay. He has not featured in the big games this season and has mostly warmed the bench. Some of his press conferences must have surely not gone down well with Ferguson.

City lead the chase for his signature. They have all the money in the world but can’t give him Champions League football. Liverpool also look a likely destination but Tevez would be wary of going there. At Liverpool, he will be second to Torres and Benitez never plays with two strikers. Totenham would be a step down. Inter Milan look like an ideal destination as they have a lot of Argentine players. Real Madrid is the last choice I would think. If Madrid fail to get Ronaldo or any other striker, then they could move for Tevez.

Likely Outcome: Will go. Knowing Ferguson, Tevez will definitely go abroad.

3. Kaka and Real Madrid, Chelsea:

One of my favorite players. I still don’t understand what he is doing at AC Milan. It is time he understood that Milan is an ageing behemoth. Their entire squad needs overhauling, from back to front. How long can you depend on Inzhagi (he still does score a lot but he can’t last an entire season) and an ageing defense (now even Maldini is gone)?

Kaka can still light up the Serie A. He can create and score. But he needs to win things as well and should move on. Madrid (again) and Chelsea lead the chase. Madrid because, well, they are Madrid and Chelsea because they can afford his transfer fee and his wages and also, Carlo Ancelotti is now at the Bridge.

In the winter transfer window, Manchester City almost pulled off an audacious move by signing Kaka but better sense prevailed. However, I hope he moves this time round. I would love to see him at United. He is the perfect attacking midfielder that we need right now. But wishful thinking. Unless Ronaldo goes, we won’t have the required funds.

Likely Outcome: Will go. It is 51-49 to Madrid.

4. Ribery and Barcelona, United, Madrid:

Ribery is one of my favorite players today. He is skillful, tricky, has got explosive pace and most of all, he does create a lot. He is a simple player unlike the prima donna called Ronaldo. Sadly he is at a club that won’t do him much good. Bayern Munich did not win the German league this year and were destroyed by Barcelona in the UCL. I can’t see Ribery winning anything in Europe with the Bavarian giants.

Barcelona are the best suited to get him this summer. He will seamlessly fit into their style of play. But then he would also fit into United as well. This is provided Ronaldo goes. Madrid stand a chance as well because Zidane has been appointed as an adviser now. I somehow feel Barcelona would be the best for him.

Likely Outcome: Will go. Barcelona.

More to come later…

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