Summer 2005 Transfer Targets & Other Rumors

When are we going to see some signing happen. I am getting tired with all these rumors and nothing happening. Also i am getting scared since Barcelona ha already made some good signings and are close to sign Joaquin (?). hope not.

 

Can someone please inform me about this Diogo?

I think we neeed to reinforce both fullback positions so I don't see any incompatibility in signing both Diogo and Ramos. Plus, ramos can play in the middle too. Young, promising players have a chance of being in the club at top level for a long time (like Roberto Carlos was)

 

u have to remember that madrid isn't the only club eyeing him (ramos). all of the top teams r. if madrid dont go for him some one else will. same thing with joaquin

 

These ridiculous rumors are part of "la salsa del fútbol" - just take everything as that: rumors. Spanish soccer fans eat this stuff up, myself included. Marca and AS sell more papers in the summer months, when no matches are played, than they do during the season. Partly because people are on vacation so they buy more papers, but especially because of the rumors.

Some comments: Cadena Ser and AS are saying that Robinho, Pablo García and Diogo are done deals. As for Sergio Ramos, he could come if Walter Samuel is sold. As expected, Sergio Ramos would come in to play in the center of the defense.

I was very excited about getting Samuel last year, but right now I don't think selling Samuel to pick up Sergio Ramos is a bad move; thing is Samuel is saying he doesn't want to leave.

There was a debate on Cadena Ser as to whether Florentino was going to go after another big signing. The consensus was yes, but that it depended on Owen leaving and that it would be a younger player. Gerrard and Cristiano Ronaldo appear to be the president's favorites; neither will be easy.


¡Hala Madrid!

 

INteresting stuff, Alma Merengue.

If the three transfers you mentioned are truly happening, then I'll admit that I'm confused by Madrid. I honestly thought that neither Robinho or Garcia would happen (Robinho was getting to be too much of a culebron).

At this point, Gerrard is a stupid signing. Now that Real have BOTH GRavesen and Garcia competing for the same spot (combined price tag - 8 million), why bother? C. Ronaldo is a better choice IMO -- young, talented, and a good wing player.

Getting rid of Solari and Samuel doesn't seem like a bad idea. And Sergio Ramos would be a nice signing, since it would mean that there would at least be a Spanish player coming.

 

I completely agree Lockjaw. I think Guti and Solari are great candidates for the starting XI and it's unfortunate they didn't get the opportunities they deserve. Hopefully, someone will see that and they'll still be in white in the fall.

While C. Ronaldo is younger, Gerrard only just turned 25 - he's not over the hill yet, is he?

As for competition with Gravesen and Garcia, I think that Gerrard would actually be an ideal replacement for Zidane. He's a great playmaker, distributes the ball well, can attack and is a solid defender. Of course, I still think the chances of Perez being able to pull this off are the same as Figo sticking around.

 

No other Spanish team can match Madrid's initial offer, and I doubt foreign teams will risk it on a 18-year old Spaniard with only one pro season behind him, specially after Reyes' sub-par performance. I'm just saying that we have a new leverage point in the negotiations - that's the point of leaving big signings for later: you want to make the selling team nervous, specially if we don't really NEED the player.

 

Ronaldo ready to sign new contract

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/headlinenews?id=335547&cc=3888

Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo looks certain to continue his career at Old Trafford.

Europe's big guns are casting envious eyes over the 20-year-old Portugal international after a string of superb displays in the Premiership and for his country.

looks like C.Ronaldo can never be ours....

 

Solari probably wants to leave. The WC Finals is coming up. He needs to be a starter somewhere to plead for his case on the NT.

Besides, Inter Milan has about 8 Argentine players on their roster and four of them -- Zannetti, Cambiasso, Veron and Kily Gonzalaz -- are regulars on the NT. Pekerman will watch plenty of Inter Milan games. Solari can show him that he plays well and as good as they are.

 

Yeah. I saw this in the Spanish press. Of course, they put a different spin on it: Cristiano Ronaldo is pressuring Manchester United to for money as a first step towards an exit. I personally don't buy that. Players have pressured clubs in the past and some are doing it now (Eto'o comes to mind), but in this case I think Sir Alex is trying to tie this guy up for a long time.

Like I said, this one will be next to impossible to pull off.

¡Hala Madrid!

 

A bit of a ramble...

I would love an off-season of just Robinho, Sergio Ramos, Pablo Garcia, and Diogo. If a big opportunity presents itself, like Owen seemed to last year, I would want Perez to make a good choice, but I hope he's realized that, unless any important player (besides Figo, who we know is on the way out) leaves, we don't really need to fill any gaps besides the ones the aforementioned players would. Hopefully the above players know that Real Madrid is a team where they won't be guaranteed to play, and they will face pressure like they've never faced before from the fans, media, and from within the team itself.

As time goes on, I think signing Gerrard makes less and less sense. His price will be artificially after they're European success, he doesn't really have a determined position on the field or in the team where we are POSITIVE he can step in and contribute (would he replace Zidane as attacking mid? Gravesen as DMid? I'd like to see Robinho or Guti or even Raul replace Zidane, and Gravesen did just fine, in my opinion, and Pablo Garcia would be the one to step in there). Same with Ballack, except I think Ballack is a little more of a refined, experienced player. We should save our pennies and not make a big signing until we need to replace someone, I think. If Ronaldo suddenly decided he'd rather lie on the beach in Rio, sign Adriano. If Raul decides to become a dentist, try to get Henry. But, as they say, 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it.' I realize that 2 years without a trophy is very close to 'broke,' but we ended the season very strongly, and with new signings, Luxembergo there from the start, and a fresh season, I think we will do alright.

 

fine. what about joaquin. can madrid let such a great player go to their rivals?

 

good post. i have to admit i don't know much about Diogo, but overall those would be good moves for this transfer window. As you say however it depends on whether additional players leave, like guti and solari, although i think they won't.

just to reiterate my point - the only glaring holes in the squad i see are depth at right fullback, defensive midfield, and central defense. if figo moves on we'll need depth at right midfield but perhaps robinho could play there (or guti, or solari, zidane - our midfielders are pretty versatile). an improvement on r. bravo as a backup left fullback would be nice but i think he's acceptable in that position (only).

as for a 'galactico' signing, maybe this is the year that perez signs a 'galactico' who is in the ascendency (robinho), instead of being already at their peak.

 

Oh yeah.

 

Good points. Ramos, Robinho, Diogo and Pablo look good.

If we could sign also Baptista for AM/replacement striker we'd have a hell of a trio of workhorses in our midfield: Gravs, García, Baptista. Enough for the three competitions. Plus, I still think we need a striker that doesn't depend mainly on speed (besides Raul)

 

Here is a new Robinho article, thought I'd share...

http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/sports/story/0,4136,89891,00.html

THE bandwagon to keep Robinho in Brazil gathered momentum when the 21-year-old striker capped his first competitive international appearance with a goal and an assist on a penalty that was converted in a 4-1 World Cup qualifying win over Paraguay.

But it looks increasingly likely that the Santos star will move this close season, and though Real Madrid are favourites to sign him, Arsenal and Chelsea have also impressed him during negotiations.

'Arsenal have been in touch with my people and I know about their interest,' he said.

'I am proud, really proud that they are looking at me, because a club like them do not come in for you every day.'

Robinho admitted that the success of Gilberto Silva and Edu at Highbury could encourage him to try his luck in north London.

'I am proud to see that England is finally opening its doors to Brazilian players,' he said.

'Gilberto Silva and Edu have done brilliantly at Arsenal and if I know about the club, it is all because of them.

'Arsenal are a brave team, because they have two Brazilians and they have both been a success. That is why, for me, they are the best team in England.'

Robinho has been in great form this season. Arsenal scouts watched him score a brace in a 3-0 Copa Libertadores win over Chilean champions Universidad de Chile to send his side into the last eight of South America's equivalent of the Champions League.

Brazilian fans are desperate for Robinho to remain in Brazil until after the 2006 World Cup.

TV channel Record has launched a campaign called Stay Robinho Stay, in which, every day, they get a celebrity to make a direct appeal to him.

Even Pele, a former Santos player, wrote an open letter to Robinho, urging him to stay. But the efforts look destined to fail.

'I'm ready to move to a great club in Europe,' Robinho said. 'I do not know any football player from Brazil in the last 20 years that has not had that dream - to go and play in Europe - and if it's for the top teams, then even better.

'I don't think that I am different in any way to any other player. I have set myself the target, clearly, of playing in Europe and taking my place in a squad that participates in the Champions League.

'I would also like, if possible, to win a title at a top league there.'

Unsurprisingly, Chelsea have also made their interest known to Robinho, and the English champions remain a possibility for the Brazilian.

'I don't know much about Mr (Roman) Abramovich but I just know that through him, Chelsea are now famous all over the world,' he said.

'It wasn't like this before, which proves that he is a great owner. I have seen some of Chelsea this season and I have to say that I love Frank Lampard, while Eidur Gudjohnsen and Didier Drogba are really good, too.'

Santos president Marcelo Teixeira has tried to persuade Robinho to stay by claiming he would lose his place in the Brazil side before the World Cup next year if he left.

'A transfer to Europe would need adaptation to new customs and food, among other things,' he said. 'This would need time.

'Going abroad could hurt his chances of being picked for the qualifying matches and the World Cup itself.

'He could go the same way as Diego who, after being transferred to Porto in Portugal, is no longer being picked by Brazil.'

But that prospect does not frighten Robinho, whose confidence off the pitch matches his skill on it.

'England is a market that still has to be conquered by us Brazilians, and why not by me?' he said.

'I have no idea if a country like England will enjoy players with my style of play.

'But football today is more and more equal, competitive and extremely professional. The only difference really is the technical skills of the players.

'So what may seem to be the easiest league for me, like Spain or Portugal, could be the hardest, as so many talented players go there.

'But a league like the English one could be the easiest, even if it looks the hardest. There, talented players can be a surprise package, even if they are a bit less physical.'

Real Madrid are the only other team who could persuade Robinho to turn his back on the Premier League.

And the fact that their coach is Wanderley Luxemburgo, Robinho's former coach at Santos, makes them an attractive option, too.

'Luxemburgo coached me at Santos and is one of the most important coaches in my career,' he said.

'He has become Madrid coach, which means he is in charge of one of the best clubs in the world.

'He is a coach who was very important for my development and my sporting career.

'Ronaldo is an idol for me as well. He has talked to me a lot about defenders going out to get him and never reacting to that. They are both good friends of mine.'

So does that mean Spain is the next destination?

'Nothing is decided yet,' he said. 'I have lots of options, to be honest.

'My former team-mate at Santos, Diego, tried to get Porto to sign me but that is unlikely now. There were talks with Benfica, which is the closest I would be to Diego.

'But I wouldn't mind playing in a different country with another language. I will learn a lot if I sign for a team with a different culture from a Brazilian side.'

At the moment, it is a three-way battle for Brazilian football's hottest property.

But with two of those clubs playing in the Premier League, there is every chance that Robinho will be in England next season.

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I'd say it's Real Madrid or Arsenal...doesn't look like he's too keen on Chelsea. I still believe RM will sign him in the end, hope I'm wrong though.

 

And some more transfer rumours;

Benitez low-key on Figo transfer

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez has played down reports of moves for Real Madrid trio Luis Figo, Raul and Guti.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/4094502.stm

Dave

 

Barcelona has reportedly offered 20 mill euro for him which is less of what RM and Chelsea have been said to offer in the past. We can certainly tie that offer, and Joaquin has always stated he prefers Madrid. If Joaquin goes to Barca, then the issue here is that we don't really want him. Besides, he just won Betis' first trophy in decades and will play the CL with them, so I think he's staying there yet another season.

In any case, he is Betis' player, so Madrid doesn't "let him go" anywhere. He goes where he chooses and to where Betis sells him.

In any case, it is becoming pretty clear that Joaquin is a higlight reel type of player. His best games of the season are invariably against Madrid and Barcelona. He's had a horrible last stretch of the season, king's cup final, and NT season - like a journalist says, he has unbelievable physical and technical conditions to be one of the best wingers in the world, but he's shows them very little at a time. I'm beginning to wonder if it's that important to sign him for over 20 mill euro.

 

looks like julio baptista is more likely to go to barcelona

http://globoesporte.globo.com/ESP/Noticia/0,,AA978869-4482,00.html

article is in portuguese though

 

Luis Figo, who has been told he can leave Real Madrid, is considering a move to Qatar.
http://www.worldsoccer.com/news/figo_linked_with_qatar_switch_news_64901.html