Carlo Cudicini is to undergo wrist and pelvic surgery today, after his “life-changing” motorbike crash yesterday morning. It has since been revealed many of Spurs‘ senior ranks didn’t know the keeper even owned a bike.
Every Premier League footballer has a standard clause written into their contract, banning them from taking part in anything which could affect their ability to train or play.
As Cudicini’s bike had apparently never been seen around Spurs’ training ground before, The Times are reporting he could possibly fall foul of a breach of contract, putting a spanner in the works of any insurance claims.
Injuries described by police as ‘possibly life-changing’
Tottenham Hotspur keeper Carlo Cudicini was rushed to hospital this morning, after his motorbike collided with a car.
Ambulances were called to the scene on Forest Road, Walthamstow, at 10.30am. The 36-year-old was then taken to an East London hospital for further assessment and treatment. Spurs have since released a statement on their official website:
Carlo Cudicini has fractured his wrists and injured his pelvis after being involved in a road accident this morning.
The 36-year-old Italian goalkeeper has been admitted to hospital and undergone scans under the supervision of club medical staff.
The club will update supporters on Carlo as soon as there is any further information.
Transfer deadline day rages on at a relatively furious pace…
Nicky Shorey to Portsmouth Sky Sports News are reporting that the Aston Villa left-back is on his way to Fratton Park for a medical. Shorey will avoid the prospect of Championship football by limiting his move to the South Coast to a season-long loan deal.
The Carlo Cudicini and David James switch-a-roo
Rumours that Jamo will jump ship to join ‘Arry at the Lane have been circulating for a few weeks, but The Daily Mail suggest Portsmouth have rejected a swap deal with Carlo Cudicini. Despite the rebuff, The Times say Mr Redknapp and Mr Levy are currently at Loggerheads over whether they should bring in the 39-year-old shot stopper.
Gennaro Gattuso to Arsenal
Ian Wright’s latest outpouring of wisdom in The Sun sees him arguing the merits of the AC Milan nutter. The pundit says Arsenal need a surrogate Patrick Vieira/ Tony Adams/ big mean person person to stop them getting bullied in the manner of Saturday’s defeat at Old Trafford. This may be true, but Gattuso ain’t going nowhere.
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Chelsea’s recent freebies haven’t had much success at the Bridge
Chelsea’s decision to bring in Ross Turnbull on a free transfer makes sense: they get to fill the squad place vacated last January by Carlo Cudicini on the cheap and if a year or two down the line they want to upgrade, he’s young enough for them to make a profit on him.
But is the former Middlesbrough keeper going to stay the duration of his four-year contract and prove a shrewd acquisition or will he be swiftly written of as a failure? Chelsea’s recent record at signing out-of-contract players suggest that the latter is more likely.
The last four players that the Blues have picked up for nothing - Steve Sidwell, Tal Ben Haim, Claudio Pizarro and Mineiro - started a combined 21 league
When Carlo Cudicini’s highly convincing impersonation of Heurelho Gomes helped cancel out Tottenham’s opening goal at the KC stadium, it looked as if the visitors would fall apart. Like they usually do. Fortunately for ‘Arry, Jonathan Woodgate leapt approximately 26 feet into the air to put away the winning header, putting Spurs a full five points clear of the drop.
After being knocked back by Kaka and his ilk, it’s becoming clear that Manchester City will have to build their team of superstars from those who hold a big day in greater regard than loyalty and dignity.
Perhaps Robinho, Craig Bellamy and co should look at the example set by Athletic Bilbao’s Joseba Exteberría. The Basque legend - who has notched up over 400 appearances for Athletic Club since 1995 - recently signed a one-year extension to his contract that will see him play for free.
The Spaniard won’t go to sleep tonight on a huge pile of money surrounded by beautiful women (isn’t that what most Premier League stars do?), but he will have earned a helluva lot more respect from the European football community.
With this in mind, take a look at The Spoiler’s Mercenary XI. And before all the City fans start getting their sky blue knickers in a twist, no players from the blue side of Manchester made the cut…
Carlo Cudicini
Cudicini might frown at his inclusion in a list containing such a disloyal and greedy bunch, but we struggled to find a true mercenary to stick between the sticks. Cudicini gets the honour, however, as a player rivaling former Chelsea colleague Winston Bogarde for lack of ambition. Before the arrival of Petr Cech in 2004, Cudicini was Chelsea’s first choice shot stopper and one of the best keepers in the league (acknowledged by his ITV Premiership Goalkeeper of the season award for 2003/04). Since Cech has displaced him as first choice and now the Italian only manages a handful of appearances a season. Chelsea’s number two keeper should have more ambition than collecting a wage for bench warming - a man of his talents would make a decent number one at most European clubs.
Pascal Chimbonda
Chimbonda put in a transfer request at Wigan Athletic straight after the final whistle of their last game of the 2005/06 season, earning him a move – and a pay rise - with Spurs. Last January the Sun reported that he told pals, “Kevin Keegan has approached me and they’ve offered me more money. I am definitely leaving Spurs. It’s all about the money. I don’t care about the final, I don’t care about the cup.” He got his wish joining Sunderland in the summer, and he is now engineering a move away from the Black Cats, with Lyon a touted destination.
Winston Bogarde
Following spells at Barcelona and AC Milan, Winston Bogarde joined Chelsea in 2000. After Gianluca Vialli was replaced, however, he found himself surplus to requirements. Chelsea were keen to offload him but no one would match his £40,000 wages and Bogarde was reluctant to take a pay cut. “Why should I throw fifteen million euros away when it is already mine? At the moment I signed it was in fact my money, my contract,” he protested. He sat it out in the reserves for four years and continued to train with either the youth or reserve teams, safe in the knowledge he would still receive his pocket money. When his contract expired, with 11 appearances in four years and a reputation as the greediest and least ambitious man in football, he retired after a lack of interest in his services. Bogarde clearly has no qualms about his time in West London: “I may be one of the worst buys in the history of the Premiership, but I don’t care”.
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