So the season ended, and as is the case with Argentine football, we only have one month before the season kicks off on August 4th. I am making this thread so we can discuss the transfer season for the Primera Division for all clubs, not just River and Boca. Here, River and Boca fans can also discuss the transfers of those two clubs in a peaceful manner without having to go to each club's board.
The first interesting signing that caught my eye was ex-San Lorenzo striker Carlos Bueno has signed for Martin Palermo's Godoy Cruz after spending last season with la U de Catolica de Chile: http://www.ole.com.ar/godoy-cruz/bueno-para-el-loco_0_947905468.html I haven't seen any of Bueno during his time in Chile, but it was only a year ago when he practically single handedly saved San Lorenzo from going to the B against San Martin and then Instituto, so I think the Uruguayan will be a great signing for Palermo's side, who are going to start this season very low in the promedios.
Well, in a late twist, Carlos Bueno won't sign with Godoy Cruz and he is actually now a Belgrano player. He even had his first practice today http://www.ole.com.ar/belgrano/pierde-tiempo_0_950305222.html This just goes to show you can't believe anything this time of year until you see a guy wearing the jersey.
Emmanuel Mas who was wanted by River has joined San Lorenzo for eight million pesos. Elizari so good at Quilmes in the final has also joined el Ciclon
Looks like they're about to seal the deal on Cauteruccio as well. Good pick up. CASLAs going to have an interesting team next season.
Other news -- Chucky Ferreyra is leaving to Ukraine for 9m euros. Bad news for Velez, who I imagine will have a tough time replacing him. German Montoya has joined Colon. Leandro Somoza will be signing with Lanus as a free agent. I'm sure Boca fans are happy. Zapata from Belgrano, who's familiar with la b, has joined Independiente. Lisandro Lopez, one of the most solid defenders in primera in recent years, has finally left Arsenal and is on his way to Portugal to join Benfica
Damn.. Duvan Zapata is leaving Estudiantes to go to the West Ham for $10,000,000. I guess it isn't fair to judge him without seeing him play week-in and week-out, but from what I've seen from the Colombian it didn't appear he was close to anywhere near that amount.
He is a good solid defender as good as their is in primera but only played for a small defensive club unlike Benfica who like to attack. He will do well but probably six months to assimilate
With a reasonable DT, he would have been on the NT long ago. Sabella has been picking far inferior players simply bc they play for/have played for his former team Estudiantes (Desabato, Basanta, Rojo all terrible players) Its probably impossible for him to break into Sabella's plans considering how rigid he is with selections, but if I were picking a 23 man squad he'd be there no doubt.
Lautaro Acosta returns to Lanus after a frustrating spell at Boca: http://www.ole.com.ar/lanus/Vuelvo-casa_0_954504734.html He was a champ there in 2007, the only title in the club's history. Also has an olympic gold medal, amazing he didn't do better at boca, though bianchi is mainly to blame for that by using him out of position.
Mauro Zarate returns to Velez http://www.ole.com.ar/velez/Zarate-Liniers_0_955104731.html Great signing for Velez. He will tear up the Argentine League. Great player, a shame his attitude problems hurt his European career
Well after Grondona's absurd rule where you can only bring in 2 reinforcements during summer (it used to be 4) it makes sense there would be a lot of movement. But yea, there is alot of movement. So far, I think San Lorenzo has reinforced itself the best. Cauterrucio is a good forward and Elizari is a very good 10 Its also interesting that no team has been dismantled. I'm very surprised for example that Racing hasn't sold any pibes. I think the economic crisis in Europe is a having a big effect on the market in arg
Smart sale by racing. By far the worst/least important of the Vietto, Zucculini, De Paul, Centurion group. They won't miss fariña at all, he's an average player. The rest are possible cracks
Looks like Nacho Scocco could be heading to Internacional de Porto Alegre for $6,000,000. http://www.ole.com.ar/newells-old-boys/Scoccinho_0_958104398.html Low number for one of the best players in the continent, especially when compared to the $$$ paid recently for a nobody like Duvan Zapata ($10m). Newell's will have a hard time replacing him. I don't know what other forwards they're looking at, but apparently David Trezeguet is close to signing. As for Inter, their attack will be deadly: D'Alessandro, Scocco.. add Forlan, Leandro Damiao, and possibly Saviola to that list as well.
Mario Regueiro has left Lanus and joined Racing. http://www.ole.com.ar/racing/es-una-alegria_0_958104445.html Regueiro is a really good signing in my opinion, I think Lanus will regret losing him. The ex-Uruguay international and Nacional forward should link up well with the pibes at Racing.
Yeah, I was surprised Lanus sold him, although he is much older than I thought (he turns 35 in less than 2 months). However, forwards that do well at other clubs have a history (curse?) of absolutely failing at Racing -- Jose Sand, Carlos Luna, Javier Campora, Hernan Barcos, to a certain extent Hauche.... the list goes on. We'll see how Regueiro does.
I hate seeing so many Argentinian talent leave for Brazil. I'm no nationalist (I'm not Argentine after all), if anything I want to see more intermingling between South American leagues, but it's embarrassing that the Brazilian league gets stronger by the day and while Argentina is getting their talents pillaged not only by Europe, but Brazil now. If Atlético come back, it'll be 4 Brazilian winners in the Libertadores in a row.
So the highest paid player in Argentina has moved clubs. Who is it you ask? Riquelme? Trezeguet? NO El Pepe Sand has joined Tigre. http://www.ole.com.ar/futbol-primera/Racing-peor-carrera_0_958704332.html What a horrible signing he was for Racing. First game, missed to penales and never recovered. He's got to have the best agent in the world, he was apparently the highest paid player in Mexico when he was there to...
Rodrigo Braña returned to Quilmes after 9 years at Estudiantes. http://www.ole.com.ar/quilmes/sigue-corriendo_0_957504461.html No word yet how this will affect his roll in the NT set up.