Bayer Leverkusen has signed 18 year-old Croatian central defensive talent Tin Jedaj on a two-season loan from AS Roma. Leverkusen boss Rudi Völler was full of praise for his new signing, stating, "Tin Jedvaj is a huge talent we have been watching for quite some time. We hope he will take the next step (in his development) with us. In him, we have a useful addition to our defensive group." Kicker article in German at this link. Bayer Leverkusen does have a purchase option.
1. FC Köln has acquired 21 year-old Czech international defender Tomas Kalas on a one season loan from Chelsea. No buy option. http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/startseite/605961/artikel_koeln-leiht-kalas-von-chelsea-aus.html
Beckenbauer banned for 3 months by FIFA. Looks like FIFA is trying to pin the blame on everybody else re: the Qatar and Russia WCs. Then again this is der Kaiser. http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/jun/13/franz-beckenbauer-banned-fifa-qatar-world-cup
It is bullshit. Even the "suspension." All it means is he can't attend the World Cup in a FIFA capacity. If he's working for a German broadcaster, they can't ban him from that. What f#cking "football related activities" is Franz involved in these days anyhow??!! Stupid.
Actually they can bar him from the World Cup since FIFA credentials the reporters. So he can't be on site BUT they cannot bar him from commenting on the games at home for Sky.
Bayer has not had much luck with Croatian players. Only Babic really panned out. This kid is the best CB prospect since Igor Tudor. Has it all technique smart aggressive good pace reads the game. He just needs time to develop as he was sold as a 17 year old to Roma and hardly played there. As good a prospect as Halilovic.
Big loss for Bayern. This is great news for us though. Now what does this mean for Madrid's midfield? They have Alonso, Iarra, Khedira, Modric, di Maria.
Di Maria is a winger and Alonso is to Real Madrid as to what Lampard was for Chelsea last season. Done.
di Maria hasn't played as a winger since the Mourinho days. And since then it's been Ronaldo on the left, Bale on the right and he's been the more advanced of the midfield 3. Even if Alonso goes, you have Khedira back from injury alongside Modric with Illara on the bench. And let's not forget Isco is also being wasted on the bench. I'm just playing devil's advocate here. Madrid have no problem paying a lot of money to sit talent on their plush benches and I'd love to see Bayern lose more of their key players.
Until it's in kicker confirming it I won't believe it. http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/startseite/607377/artikel_marca_kroos-wechsel-fix.html
Speaking of Isco being wasted, Real Madrid traditionally buy a big breakout attacker after the World Cup. Logic would have them strongly pursuing James Rodriguez, and yes, he's already at Monaco, but Perez has a way of generally getting players he wants badly. This pushes Isco even further down the depth chart. And not this summer, but the next, if he still isn't getting playing time, I was wondering if he might be a viable option for BVB to pursue if Mkhitaryan doesn't take steps forward. Thoughts?
If Dortmund move Miki to the centre to play a little deeper then Isco would fit in ok wouldn't he? I think he would be too costly though as much as I would like to see a player like him at BVB
They buy a breakout attacker whenever they can. Actually when we lost Gotze last year, I was really hoping that we'd get Isco because he was the best player in the Malaga squad and even more importantly, he has the same set of attributes. But having said that, Isco won't be sold for anywhere less than ~27M and that's only if Real really want to get rid of him. So the question is, would we reach the SF of the CL and at least 2nd in BuLi to afford AND attract him? I would have paid the additional 3M or so and taken Isco any day over Mkhitaryan. We have never and will never need Mkhitaryan.
That's what you get when you have the advantage of monopolizing broadcast revenue and continuously get breaks from the banks on your loan payments because you are almost untouchable. They are run by scumbags who are paralleled only by those run by Bayern.
I wonder if United fans find it depressing that their club is spending stupid amounts in transfer funds to build their squad after decades of SAFs frugality had led them to so much success. A club that produced Giggs, Scholes, Neville, Ronaldo and Cantona can no longer develop their own talent?
What exactly did you mean by produce? He developed his basic talents in Madeira. He played for just one season where he impressed. He became a world class footballer at United under SAF. He wouldn't be the same player had he signed for Real Madrid in 2003.