Archive for the ‘Player Talk’ Category

Ribery has been the topic in town for the past 2 months. First he was link to Real Madrid to be part of the new Galactico in Bernabeu. Soon, Barcelona also express interests in bringing the playmaker to Nou Camp to maintain their strongest attack squads  in the world. Then come the Manchester United which Ferguson believed that Ribery is the most ideal choice of replacement for C.Ronaldo. Then Ancelotti also make his move as he think Ribery shall be the key to the success of Chelsea 4-4-2 diamond formation. Arsene Wenger who never splash big money on players, are considering to make a club transfer record for the Frenchman too. Liverpool who has not been 1 of the contestant suddenly joined in the chase, as Benitez know what Liverpool needs to win Premier League title. Suddenly Italian rivals Juventus and Inter also express their interests to sign Ribery. Juventus believes signing Ribery can bring back their quality to the past before the scanda which lead to relegation and the departure of star player Thuram, Zambrotta, Cannavaro, Vieira, Emerson and Ibrahimovic. With sale money of Ibrahimovic, Inter join in the chase to try shorten their strength different between other top European rival in Champion League.

To be able to attract the top 8 club in the world, Top 4 of English Premier League, Top 2 in Italian Serie A and Top 2 in Spanish La Liga, shall be the dream of all footballers. Those 8 clubs has filled up all the 4 spots in the Champion League Semi-Final for the past 2 season. Still a nobody in May 2006, Ribery received his first international call up for France and then goes on to represent France in World Cup 06. Soon he was being hailed as the new Zidane in France after the retirement of Zidane, and attracted lots of big club before making a move to Bayern Munich in June 2007.

Even with Bayern Munich put the price tag of £85m (€100m) on their star player Ribery, it didn’t manage to scare those suitor off. So far, Real Madrid has bidded €80m, Barcelona offered €60m, Man Utd line up £35m bid, Chelsea launched £40m bid, Arsenal considering £40m bid, Liverpool prepared £44m bid, Juventus with €50m budget next season  and Inter with €45m fund available. With just 2 years left in his contract, all these clubs might force themselves to wait for another season, so that they can acquires the french playmaker at a lower costs, provided he never renews his contract.

Seem to me, Barcelona style of soccer suit him the best with the flow of passing and the option to team up with Ibrahimovic and Messi in the strikeforce. Real Madrid will be another option as he can being labelled as 1 of the new Galactico and playing alongside with previous 2 FIFA player of the year, Kaka and C.Ronaldo. For Man Utd, to play under Sir Alex Ferguson will be his honour as over the years, Ferguson has bring out the potential of many star player like Cantona and C.Ronaldo. Under Ancelotti in Chelsea, 1 of the most profilic manager in Europe, trophy shall be within his reach as Chelsea currently are the most stabled team in EPL. In Arsenal, a chance to team up with all the future star player like Walcott and Wilshere will be quite interesting and he can remake the all attacking squad of Arsenal just like Henry reign in the past. Joining Liverpool with the best club fans in the world, he shall never walk alone and dream of getting EPL title shall come true along with Gerrard and Torres. Juventus shall be his destination if he decide to join the squads where all the famous Frenchmen Henry, Zidane, Vieira and Thuram had stay at before. Inter only attraction will be the chance to play under the self labelled “Special One” Jose Mourinho, 1 of the most arrogant manager in the world.

My bet will be of Ribery joining Real Madrid in the end, with the project of current era of Galactico ongoing too tempting for him to turn down. As early as January shall the deal be done with the sale of Real Madrid unwanted player to fund the costs, and with just 18 months left in the contracts will for sure reduce the price tag by at abit.

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The 27 years old spanish Euro 08 top scorer has been link to numbers of big club in europe since summer 09 transfer market opened. With Valencia in large financial debts and all their players are seem to be available, their star player David Villa has attracted the like of Liverpool, Man Utd, Chelsea, Barcelona and Real Madrid which enquiry about him and make bids on him.

Despite being link to all these big clubs, Villa has been keep making statement that he is currently happy in Valencia and doesn’t wish to move away to another clubs. All the link  finally come to a end after Valencia has confirmed that David Villa is not for sale this summer on mid June 09 and will do everything to hold on to him.

So far he has only been playing in Spain for 3 different club, Sporting Gijon, Real Zaragora and Valencia. His forms of scoring has been consistance throughout his career, scoring a total of 155 goal during 8 season which 6 season is at Spanish top flight. Not only his club performance is good, his international level performance is even awesome. Only been called up for Spain 4 year ago, he is now currently the second top scorer of all time for Spain with 31 goals, just behind Raul of 44 goals but Raul has more than twice the amount of cap than Villa for Spain.

Liverpool are back linking up with David Villa again with Xabi Alonso on the verge of moving back to Spain, Real Madrid with as estimate of 30 million pound. Liverpool plan to use the money they get from Alonso to try bid for David Villa again, if the deal go through, it will break Liverpool transfer record which is set by the capture of Torres few year back of 20.6 million pound. Liverpool manager Benitez believe Torres held the key in bringing Villa to Anfield, as they formed 1 of the most feared strike international partnership in the world.

Should Alonso go and Villa come with Mascherano staying, Liverpool can change their current 4-2-3-1 formation to 4-3-1-2, with Mascherano taking up Holding Mid and Lucas serves as backup for him, Babel, Kuyt, Benayoun and Riera fill up the 2 wing spot, Gerrard taking Attacking Mid with Villa and Torres at the frontline. This new formation might work for Liverpool but the only problem still lie on Gerrard as he is unreplacable if he get injured again, with Torres or Villa get injure, they can switch back to 4-2-3-1 again.

I believe Villa will leave Valencia sooner or later just like Torres last time, which eventually leave Aletico Madrid. Hardly got player who is so loyal to their club now where there is clubs like Man City, Chelsea and Madrid which can offer big money unlike Raul, Gerrard, Gigg and Maldini whereby their club are European top tiers unlike Valencia which is 2nd tier now. If Villa really does move to Liverpool, biggest reason shall be silverware instead of forming fearsome partnership with El Nino in the front at club level. Valencia has been dropping out of champion league for years and Liverpool are getting better chance to get their long lost EPL Title.

Since AC Milan star player Kaka departed to Real Madrid, another big prolific player, set piece specialist Andrea Pirlo looked likely to be the next one to leave the club as he just submitted a transfer request to join up with his former manager Carlo Ancelotti in Chelsea. The playmaker has been link with Chelsea since the takeover of Ancelotti in the manager role in Chelsea.

He was the first player to be bought by Ancelotti in AC Milan and has acheieve 1 Scudetto in 2004 and 2 Champion League title in 2003 and 2007 during Ancelotti reign in Milan. He has make over 200 appearances for AC Milan and scored quite a number of spectacular goals and provided plenty of assists.

Chelsea has been making bids for Pirlo a number of time which got rejected repeatly. The last bid was worth 14 million euro containing striker Claudio Pizarro was rejected early this week. AC Milan was say to look for 20 million euro for Pirlo instead with Chelsea might want to add on player to reduce the cash offer. Negotiation are still going on which Chelsea would prefer to finish the deal within next week to prepare Pirlo for the Premier League opening match on the 15th Aug.

He has also won everything he can in Italy already and held World Cup winner medal, which is why his career so far has been consider very successful. Guess it time for him to move on for new challenge and prepare for defending next year world cup. Chelsea will be a good place where he can reunite with his former manager and perhaps help revive Shevchenko form, as they has form a formidable partnership in the past.

I would said it would be better for Pirlo to leave the clubs than to remain under an inexperience manager managing an ageing club. AC Milan are seem to be in a financial crisis as it was said financial was part of the reason why Milan sold Kaka away. Milan haven’t been spenting much in bringing in good player or replacement for Kaka, as their rival Inter bought in Lucio, Eto, Milito and Motta, rival Juventus bought in Diego, Melo, Cannavaro and Caceres. They are behind strength to Challenge for the ISA title in coming season.