Argentinean could challenge third party ownership under EU law
It takes Wengeresque brain power to fully understand the intricacies of the Carlos Tevez transfer situation, but here are the bare facts: the Argentinian’s registration is owned by a third party named Media Sports Investments (MSI), the founder and president of which is his advisor Kia Joorabchian. His contract with MSI means he is not allowed to agree to anything without their consent. Manchester Utd have paid between £6m and £10m during his two year ‘loan deal’ at Old Trafford, and in order to secure his services next year, they will have to make up the rest of his £32m valuation.
The Sun’s Ian McGarry, however, suggests that Utd should not have to shell out a hefty transfer fee to keep their wet dog-alike: citing EU law, the journalist purports that Tevez can sign for the club any time he wants, provided his own personal terms are met.
Spanish press reinvigorates our favourite summer transfer saga
Since Alex Ferguson thwarted Cristiano Ronaldo’s plans to move to Spain last summer, the tricky winger has dropped plenty of hints that he will bid adieu to rainy Manchester in summer 2009 (see hints here, here and here).
Spanish paper Sport today adds further fuel to the transfer fire, by claiming Emilio Botin, the chairman of Santander bank, has given the green light for a €70m loan to secure the services of the Portuguese star.
Sport claims the two clubs agreed to the transfer at the end of last summer, and the fee is expected to be around €100m. This agreement, however, has a clause that states Manchester Utd can back out of the deal if it is revealed in the press.
We don’t know what surprises us more: the rubbish press clause, the fact that Madrid have secured such a huge loan so easily at a time when banks have little inclination to give out credit, or the idea that Fergie would sell the Spaniards anything other than a virus.
Winger capable of superb skill and crushing disappointment
New Chelsea loaner Ricardo Quaresma is a great player. A product of the Sporting youth system that gave the world Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani, his pace, skill and brilliant swervey shooting technique caught the eye of Frank Rijkaard in 2003. The 25-year-old winger, however, failed to set La Liga alight, and made only ten starts for Barcelona. During Euro 2004, he showed early signs of being a pain in the arse by insisting he would never play for the Spanish giants again, and eventually engineered himself a return to Portugal.
After a successful stint at FC Porto, Quaresma caught the eye of The Special One, who paid €18.6m plus Portuguese youngster Pele to bring him to Internazionale. Mourinho doesn’t sign players lightly, but even he has grown tired of Quaresma’s lack of “tactical discipline”. He has scored one goal in eleven appearances in Italy, and now finds himself loaned out after less than a season.
To summarise, Quaresmo has been a hit in Portugal, but has failed to do anything in two of Europe’s biggest leagues, and has a record of petulance on and off the field.
So, has Big Phil made a good choice bringing him in, or has he given himself a huge headache? Let us know what you think below.
Spoiler bonus: If given regular playing opportunities, Quaresma is capable of great things - check out a compilation after the jump…
England star David Beckham rounded off a 4-1 victory for Milan yesterday with a powerful strike that shouldn’t have beat the keeper at his near post. Things are going great for Mr B in Italy, and in news that won’t please fans of the second worst team in the MLS, the on loan player dropped more hints that he will be staying with the Rossoneri:
“I can’t say what will happen. Even if my contract says that I’ll be here until March, we’ll have to see.
“At the moment I’m enjoying this experience. I’m at one of the biggest clubs in the world. And having won gives us confidence to continue.”
Will Beckham finally give up on his American dream? Will Darren “The legend from the Norfolk Team” Huckerby fulfill his potential as the greatest export to grace the continental United States? Stay tuned and find the answers on the next episode of The Spoiler! Probably.
Spoiler bonus: Full highlights of the Milan game, including a goal from some guy called ‘Kaka’ after the jump…
He better have something bloody interesting to say
David Beckham should start his first game for the Rossoneri later today, as they face Martin Jol’s Hamburg in a winter friendly.
Italian broadcaster RAI tv were hoping to catch up with the headline-grabbing star, but were shocked to find out they had to pay for the privilege. They were even more shocked when they were told the amount being requested was €500,000 (that’s £500,000 currently, or about £800,000 in a few days time).
The Beckham loan deal was designed purely to put bums on seats in the San Siro and cash in the club shop tills, so in this respect there’s little surprise that an interview is so costly.
Understandably, RAI tv will not be taking up the offer, probably because Mr B is notoriously dull during interviews, and coughing up €10,000 every time he mumbles “you know” is not a particularly prudent investment at a time of recession.
Read all about the outrage here, but be warned: it’s in some crazy language.
Mr B must be tempted to sack off Major League Soccerball
It takes an awful lot to make Milan fans turn up at the San Siro these days, and the promise of seeing new signing David Beckham before the match with Udinese was enough to put bums on about half the available seats.
Despite the lukewarm welcome, Beckham will wear black and red until March, starting with a winter training camp in the UAE. Some are simply calling the loan a cynical marketing exercise, yet the benefits of playing for a top European side (well, a UEFA Cup side) are clear: he will be able to maintain fitness, perhaps earn a place in the World Cup 2010 squad, and if Ronaldinho and Kaka allow it, he could even bang in a few of his trademark free kicks.
Beckham is contractually obliged to return to Los Angeles for the new Soccerball season, but he has admitted that he has looked into Italian schools for his kids, suggesting the loan may become permanent.
He may have raised the profile of the game in the US and hanging out with Tom Cruise is super great fun, but the LA Galaxy are still as shit as they were two years ago, and he risks falling off Fabio’s radar if he goes back to stare at cheerleaders in sunny California.
So, should Backham return to the MLS, or should he take the opportuntiy to stay with the Rossoneri, should such an opportunity present itself? Votes and comments below, please.
Earlier this year, Hank Hicks and Billy Bob Gillett ran into a little money trouble and faced the prospect of offloading Fernando Torres and Ryan Babel just to pay the heating bills. Today, the papers are awash with the news that the American investors have suffered at the hands of the current financial apocalypse and will owe two banks (Wachovia and the Royal Bank of Scotland) £350m in January. They do not currently have the cash, and refinancing loans from two of the worst hit banks in the crisis will be harder than getting Ledley King to stay sober in a nightclub.
While the prospect of a fire sale right in the middle of a serious title campaign is a possible (and potentially disastrous) way of raising much-needed equity, the current predicament does have a rather large silver lining: Hicks and Gillett may be desperate to bail out, forcing
Italians brace themselves for huge marketing opportunity
This morning, Major League Soccerballer David Beckham confirmed that he will be heading to Italy in the new year, as the club will provide the ideal environment for keeping his wife in boutiques maintaining his fitness. Goal.com reports:
“Milan here I come. I want to continue being a footballer,” said Beckham via his spokesman Simon Oliveira.
“Yes, it’s all true. I will arrive in Milan at the end of the year and I will stay until February.
“Only European football can take me back to certain levels and only Milan is the right way to refind competitiveness.”
Training with a top UEFA Cup side like Milan will undoubtedly keep Becks at a suitable level of fitness during the MLS closed season, with the idea being that he stays match fit for potential England selection. This seems smart enough, but if he wants to stay in contention for the national side, shouldn’t he train or play where Don Fabio can keep a closer eye on him? Even if he didn’t accept Harry Redknapp’s offer (it’s unlikely - have you ever been shopping at Gunwharf Quays?), he could perhaps train with Arsenal again (although admittedly, he failed to make the England last time he did this).
Is Beckham making the right choice with Milan, or would he be better off training, and maybe playing with, a club in the greatest league in the world? Join in the debate with a vote and comment below…
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