Fran Merida’s laser-guided finish in the Carling Cup against Liverpool last week propelled him into public eye alongside Carlos Vela, Jack Wilshere and Aaron Ramsey, as part of Arsenal’s jealousy-inducing line up of future stars.
However, things aren’t all good in the hood. The 19-year-old Spaniard is out of contract at the end of season and doesn’t look particularly fussed about tying up a deal any time soon. Even worse, he’s jonesing for a move to Atletico Madrid - which wouldn’t be so bad if 1) Atleti weren’t 18th in La Liga (one win from nine); and 2) he wasn’t born in Barcelona.
Leonid Slutsky’s (no laughing at the back) side took a surprise lead through Alan’s 25th minute strike, but were soon pegged back by a typically poached goal from Michael Owen. After going 3-1 down to a pair of all-too-easy goals from Milos Krasic and Vasili Berezutski, United staged a late rally - 84th minute late - with a Paul Scholes header and Antonio Valencia’s deflected equaliser.
Atletico Madrid 2/ Chelsea 2
Chelsea started the match ready to hammer an Atletico Madrid side, laughably shambolic on and off the pitch, who had nothing to play for. However, Atleti put in an admirable first-half performance, before Kun Aguero came on and smashed a 66th minute volley which stuck a massive middle finger up at any idea of a Blues rout.
Didier Drogba grabbed a late brace, but Aguero popped up again in injury time (with a free-kick that’ll add a few €m to his price tag in January) to grab a point.
The latest transfer gossip, rumours and damned lies
Andrea Pirlo, Franck Ribery and Sergio Aguero to Chelsea
Chelsea have been searching all summer for what they call a “marquee name” and now The Daily Mail expect them to bring three in at once by spending £100 million on Pirlo, Ribery and Aguero.
The Spoiler truth-o-meter: The Blues have been linked with Pirlo ever since Carlo Ancelotti’s appointment and that looks a reasonable possibility but Bayern Munich have said Ribery is no longer available and Aguero is supposedly happy to stay in Spain.
Joe Cole to Spurs
Obviously the arrival of two more midfielders would damage Cole’s chances of
Our Spanish friends at AS have been speculating over the future of Atletico Madrid striker Sergio Agüero throughout the closed season, and they seem convinced he will end up in Manchester.
The Argentinean - whose lovemaking with Diego Maradona’s daughter has been so successful that she has borne his first son - was supposedly the subject of a €46m bid earlier this summer. The offer hit a stumbling block, however, when it was revealed that ‘Kun’ has a €60m buy-out clause written into his contract.
AS believe Alex Ferguson would like to offer Atletico Madrid €40m and Nani to satisfy the contractual stipulation. The Spaniards, however, would much prefer to have Dimitar Berbatov and €20m.
After suffering a very nasty car accident on Tuesday night, Atletico Madrid defender Mariano Pernía is lucky to be alive. The Spanish international was driving through the Buenos Aires province of Rauch with his daughter and nephew, when an incident left his car overturned and in a shockingly bad state.
Amazingly, all three survived the crash. Pernía - pictured above grappling with vile Blackburn striker El Hadji Diouf - is currently recovering in a Buenos Aires hospital after receiving a head trauma, a fractured spine and a punctured lung. His daughter and nephew were propelled out of the car at the point of impact, the former escaping with a fractured collarbone and the latter getting away without injury.
It’s not known how long Pernía will be recovering for, or whether he will play again.
The latest transfer gossip, rumours and damned lies
Sergio Aguero to Manchester Utd
The man who is boffing Maradona’s daughter (and possibly a few more ladies) is a £45m target of the Red Devils, according to The Daily Star. Fergie has turned his attention to the Atletico Madrid striker after giving up on Madrid-bound David Villa. The Spoiler truth-o-meter: Even though Chelsea were put off by Aguero’s £200k-per-week wage demands, Utd are apparently hoping they can secure his services for a modest £120k-per-week. It could happen, but we think the £45m valuation is a little high.
Emmanuel Adebayor to a club in Milan The Mirror exclusively reveal that the Togolese hitman will be offered to both Milan clubs, in a bid to keep him from joining Chelsea. They have hired agents to bring in £25m for the man who fought Nicklas Bendtner for the coveted “most stick from home fans at the Emirates” award last season.
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