Transfer Rumours Latest - Ancelotti, Suarez, Callejon, Bale, Di Maria
1. Ancelotti and Leonardo's ban - Complications
Generally speaking, if a coach wants out, he gets out. And Ancelotti is obviously Madrid's #1 choice (and a good one, I think) and wants out of PSG.
Problem: PSG (as of yesterday) suddenly have no replacement for him unless the terms of Leonardo's ban still make it possible for him to coach his team. (Like Conte in Italy with Juve perhaps?)
At any rate: here's The Guardian on the subject.
That's the tame stuff...
.
2. Luis Suarez
This rumour seems to have come out of left field this week, but it's looking very serious very fast. It's not REALLY surprising. He's not precisely marketable (unless you take the current craze for vampires into consideration - and perhaps Perez wants to tap into the Twi-hard market) but there's no doubt he's one of the EPL's three best players - and of course we are trying to go for one of the other two (more on that below).
Suarez, according to statements made two days ago) wants out of Liverpool "for his family" - not for the money or to actually win something.
My reason for leaving is not the money. If it were the money, I would have left already. It's my family and my image. It's a difficult moment for me. The coach and my colleagues know that they [the press] didn't treat me well here [in Britain]. I am persecuted by the paparazzi all the time. I could not even go into the garden or the supermarket. I know it is normal, being followed by the press, but it's too much - all the silly things they said, all the pictures, all the taunts. That happened every day and nobody supported me.
Okay, I can't help but editorialize at this point: Dude. You were banned for a crap-load of games last year for shocking behaviour and racially abusing Patrice Evra. Your club stood by you, nevertheless. You are also lucky Rio Ferdinand didn't kick your ass when you refused to shake hands with Evra (I leave aside the position you put your coach into, you ungrateful prat). And what did you do then? You bit someone. On live television. What's more, you are a recidivist biter. Expecting the press to be delicate about it is a bit much.
Robert Mugabe took time out of his busy schedule last month to call you "unprofessional." Look at your life, boy. Look at your choices.
BTW - we have El Pais, Marca, El Mundo Deportivo and As - and they are not precisely known for their restraint. We also have far more delicious players. Can you handle the temptation?
LINK TO THE BBC in which Liverpool say he's not for sale (lol).
LINK TO AS in which the paper claim we're offering 23 million + Callejon (translation: 1 million more than Liverpool bought him for + non-biting player). This could be true. It could also be some set of journalists bored with tossing paper-planes around the office and making stuff up for giggles and shit. I don't know about you, but "sources confirm" sounds pretty thin to me.
On the other hand, the rumour does seem legit - just based on sheer volume of coverage.
Lolstastic fun fact: if he comes he can't play until October - his ban carries over.
Final loltastic fun fact: His agent is Pep Guardiola's brother.
I am not kidding y'all.
3. Gareth Bale
The EPL's best player this season.
This signing is complicated by Bale's natural loyalty to his club and his fantastic relationship with AvB - but he seems to really want to come to Madrid, and to play with his hero Cristiano Ronaldo -
Another hat-trick for Ronaldo! I think he's the best all round player in the world right now #ballondor2013 :p
- Gareth Bale (@GarethBale11) January 9, 2013
Probably Cristiano Ronaldo or Ronaldinho RT @ teisfeld1d46 @ garethbale11 who's the best player, you've ever played against?
- Gareth Bale (@GarethBale11) January 9, 2013
Personally, I find this all very laudable. His hero-worship of Cristiano Ronaldo is only appropriate. Pity more young players lack his taste and refinement. Sign 'im up Perez!
This news is so old and so obvious and so widely covered, I'm not bothering to dig up a story - just Google him.
Recent complications: he appears to have signed on to become one of the "faces" of the new EPL season.
Recent hopeful signs: his agent appeared on Marca TV (which means, there's like, footage and stuff of him actually saying it) that his client is "ready to listen..."
Out-going Transfer Rumours To This Point
We know about Carvalho...he's already signed for Monaco.
The bigger news is that PSG are the first club to make a bid (supposedly) for Angel di Maria, who will almost certainly be leaving us after a rather awful season, actually. Nevertheless, the two Manchesters and PSG are all interested.
Initial bid: rumoured to be 25 million
Generally speaking, if a coach wants out, he gets out. And Ancelotti is obviously Madrid's #1 choice (and a good one, I think) and wants out of PSG.
Problem: PSG (as of yesterday) suddenly have no replacement for him unless the terms of Leonardo's ban still make it possible for him to coach his team. (Like Conte in Italy with Juve perhaps?)
At any rate: here's The Guardian on the subject.
That's the tame stuff...
.
2. Luis Suarez
This rumour seems to have come out of left field this week, but it's looking very serious very fast. It's not REALLY surprising. He's not precisely marketable (unless you take the current craze for vampires into consideration - and perhaps Perez wants to tap into the Twi-hard market) but there's no doubt he's one of the EPL's three best players - and of course we are trying to go for one of the other two (more on that below).
Suarez, according to statements made two days ago) wants out of Liverpool "for his family" - not for the money or to actually win something.
My reason for leaving is not the money. If it were the money, I would have left already. It's my family and my image. It's a difficult moment for me. The coach and my colleagues know that they [the press] didn't treat me well here [in Britain]. I am persecuted by the paparazzi all the time. I could not even go into the garden or the supermarket. I know it is normal, being followed by the press, but it's too much - all the silly things they said, all the pictures, all the taunts. That happened every day and nobody supported me.
Okay, I can't help but editorialize at this point: Dude. You were banned for a crap-load of games last year for shocking behaviour and racially abusing Patrice Evra. Your club stood by you, nevertheless. You are also lucky Rio Ferdinand didn't kick your ass when you refused to shake hands with Evra (I leave aside the position you put your coach into, you ungrateful prat). And what did you do then? You bit someone. On live television. What's more, you are a recidivist biter. Expecting the press to be delicate about it is a bit much.
Robert Mugabe took time out of his busy schedule last month to call you "unprofessional." Look at your life, boy. Look at your choices.
BTW - we have El Pais, Marca, El Mundo Deportivo and As - and they are not precisely known for their restraint. We also have far more delicious players. Can you handle the temptation?
LINK TO THE BBC in which Liverpool say he's not for sale (lol).
LINK TO AS in which the paper claim we're offering 23 million + Callejon (translation: 1 million more than Liverpool bought him for + non-biting player). This could be true. It could also be some set of journalists bored with tossing paper-planes around the office and making stuff up for giggles and shit. I don't know about you, but "sources confirm" sounds pretty thin to me.
On the other hand, the rumour does seem legit - just based on sheer volume of coverage.
Lolstastic fun fact: if he comes he can't play until October - his ban carries over.
Final loltastic fun fact: His agent is Pep Guardiola's brother.
I am not kidding y'all.
3. Gareth Bale
The EPL's best player this season.
This signing is complicated by Bale's natural loyalty to his club and his fantastic relationship with AvB - but he seems to really want to come to Madrid, and to play with his hero Cristiano Ronaldo -
Another hat-trick for Ronaldo! I think he's the best all round player in the world right now #ballondor2013 :p
- Gareth Bale (@GarethBale11) January 9, 2013
Probably Cristiano Ronaldo or Ronaldinho RT @ teisfeld1d46 @ garethbale11 who's the best player, you've ever played against?
- Gareth Bale (@GarethBale11) January 9, 2013
Personally, I find this all very laudable. His hero-worship of Cristiano Ronaldo is only appropriate. Pity more young players lack his taste and refinement. Sign 'im up Perez!
This news is so old and so obvious and so widely covered, I'm not bothering to dig up a story - just Google him.
Recent complications: he appears to have signed on to become one of the "faces" of the new EPL season.
Recent hopeful signs: his agent appeared on Marca TV (which means, there's like, footage and stuff of him actually saying it) that his client is "ready to listen..."
Out-going Transfer Rumours To This Point
We know about Carvalho...he's already signed for Monaco.
The bigger news is that PSG are the first club to make a bid (supposedly) for Angel di Maria, who will almost certainly be leaving us after a rather awful season, actually. Nevertheless, the two Manchesters and PSG are all interested.
Initial bid: rumoured to be 25 million