Situation no win
Rush for the change of atmosphere
I can't go on so I give in
Gotta get myself right outta here
-Mick Jones
Less than two weeks before the dust fills the air and cobweb strands are stretched thin by the January transfer window cracking open, reports of carpal tunnel are being reported by soccer stars across Europe. "Why?" you ask. They're incessantly texting their agents to get them on the next flight out of town. A handful of gripes can lead to a professional soccer player seeking a change of scenery come winter.
"I want more money. Get me out of this league. I want Champions League football. More playing time! This coach doesn’t know what he’s doing. I want to win. I need to start for my national team in Brazil."
They sound like babies.
But it’s all rather practical for these stars living in a bubble in the middle of the sports-industrial complex. Hate them and their wages if you want, but they truly have a dog’s life when it comes to their short-lived careers. And as nauseating as it can be to read the phrase "in a World Cup year" again, form matters. Riding the pine at Old Trafford, Javier Hernandez is pining for playing time for this very reason.
And it’s not a slam-dunk to get the nod for one’s national team. Vicente Del Bosque will be watching his lot of strikers closely because not even Diego Costa is guaranteed to play if Spain starts no strikers like the victorious walrus was prone to do at the 2012 European Championships. (Makes one question the Brazilian’s decision to formally commit to Spain, but that’s another story for another day.)
The bottom line is that now, more than ever, we’re seeing stories leaked to the papers about Player X being bound for Club Y. Players, agents and top clubs are floating whispers off into the ether. If you listen closely, you can even detect a hint or two between the lines of one of Jose Mourinho’s Shakespeare-esque press-conference soliloquies. So, let’s dissect a few of these tectonic plate-shifting transfer rumors so the liquid hot magma doesn’t melt our extremities when it splashes up on our beloved clubs.
***
God’s gift to Colombian football fans, Radamel Falcao hasn’t played since being subbed off by Claudio Ranieri in the 63rd minute of Monaco’s 1-0 victory over Nantes on Nov. 24. Since then, the injured superstar has barely seen the training ground and hasn’t shown up once at the Stade Louis II in December. The 27-year-old striker has nine goals in 14 Ligue 1 matches for the second-place challengers, who are still focused on qualifying for Champions League football next season.
Even with that carrot hanging at the end of the stick, rumors were disseminated prior to Day 2 of the Colombian international’s vacation in the principality that his contract allows for a January return to Madrid—but this time, he would be shedding the red and donning the white.
Or might he choose blue? Desperate for a consistent striker, Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho would again be "the happy one" with the 0.79 goals per game Falcao has scored for his club since landing at the Portuguese manager’s former outfit Porto in 2009.
In this zero-sum game, solving Chelsea’s problems would certainly create some others as Tottenham Hotspur know all too well from the hijacking of Willian in the final days of the summer transfer window.
A similar scenario seems to be playing out with Inter Milan midfielder Fredy Guarin, who was rumored to be involved in a transfer to Manchester United which would see Mexican forward Javier Hernandez bound for la dolce vita. However, the Colombian international’s agent, Marcelo Ferreyra, has already been to London to pave the way for a move to the Blues instead. The player checks a lot of boxes for the Red Devils, who have a gaping hole in midfield causing Wayne Rooney to begrudgingly drift back and defend rather than find the back of the net in David Moyes’ system.
Losing Chicharito would be a blow for United, but the Mexican international has just one goal and one assist in 11 games this season and really hasn’t been the same since his breakout debut season for Sir Alex Ferguson in 2010, powering the Red Devils to both a 19th Premiership title and a Champions League final appearance with 21 goals in 48 appearances (40 percent of those as a sub). Overall for the club, he’s scored at a rate of 0.4 goals per game, and diminished minutes haven’t served his form well. Ever since Dutchman Robin van Persie flew Arsenal’s coop, the writing was on the wall, and maybe a change of scenery would do the Little Pea’s game some good.
Meanwhile, Chelsea stands to benefit from snatching Guarin out of Moyes’ clutches, which is obviously to the detriment of the defending English champions both on the pitch and in terms of public perception. Can the new kids at Old Trafford handle their business? Based on the summer, the answer is clearly no. Moyes and executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward need a transfer win, and it’s no stretch to imagine Mourinho playing the mustache-twisting villain, maniacally laughing into the night, the echoes of which are sure to reach Manchester.
After Real Madrid broke its own transfer market record shelling out 100 million euros for Gareth Bale, Suarez’s agent Pere Guardiola is sure to be more than a little hands-on renegotiating a club record breaking contract with Liverpool reportedly set to double his wages. Not since Monty Python & The Holy Grail have we seen a rabbit leave so much havoc in its wake, but goals heal all wounds and Liverpool has awarded Suarez the captain’s armband. Ultimately, one gets the feeling he could be on his way to Real Madrid no matter what cash Fenway Sports Group splash or accolades emanate from the coach. No doubt it would be wise of Pep’s brother to insert a clause that would allow El Conejo to hop to the Spanish capital for the right price.
Bored of striker move news? Well, Simpsons character Sideshow Bob look-a-like David Luiz is the life of the party cracking jokes on the bench at Stamford Bridge. It’s no secret he hasn’t impressed Mourinho who prefers stout defenders who adhere to their position. He should move to Barcelona before Black History Month begins. There, he’ll help the Catalan side manage its multitude of injuries on the backline replacing Carles Puyol. Don’t be surprised if Tata Martino allows the wily Brazilian more freedom to roam and push the ball forward.
While there’s some logic behind these rumors, the forces that govern the transfer market can be stronger than any rationale presented. Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester City, and Monaco are sure to exert their force economically once again. Given that, it’s not so easy to see how Falcao might be pried free from cash flush Monaco flying duty-free. And Liverpool will be hard pressed to keep their volatile ace in the hole. Never underestimate promises of more playing time, World Cup glory, and the almighty dollar in this year when everything is up for grabs…and gripes.
No comments:
Post a Comment