Best and Worst of the 2013 Summer Transfer Window
"Is he really worth 100 million euros?"
Honorable Mentions:
Isco Alarcon (Real Madrid)-30 Million Euros
Neymar Junior (F.C. Barcelona)-57 Million Euros
Steven Caulker (Cardiff City)-Around 9.5 Million Euros
Simon Mignolet (Liverpool F.C.)-10.6 Million Euros
Gonzalo Higuain (S.S.C. Napoli)-40.6 Million Euros
Best Transfers:
1. Tiago Ilori & Mamadou Sakho (Central Defenders)
Liverpool F.C. seemed to have picked up a good centre-back pair in Tiago Ilori and Mamadou Sakho. Both cost a combined 32.9 Million Euros, even though the price is hefty its a deal for the future. Ilori helped guide the U-20 Portugal side to the round of 16 during the U-20 WC eventually losing to Ghana. He was a rock along with others only conceding 4 goals during the group stage with the likes of Nigeria and South Korea. Mamadou Sakho has been disgruntled ever since he lost his starting role to Brazilians Alex & Thiago Silva. But when he got his occasional start he would impress throughout the game, these efforts helped the team win their first Ligue 1 title since 1994. These transfers make sense because both current starters at Liverpool; Martin Skrtel & Daniel Agger, have been subject of many transfer rumors. Both are under the age of 25 and it seems like they have a bright future ahead of themselves for club & country.
2. Mesut Ozil (Attacking Midfielder)
Arsenal broke their transfer fee record for this player, shelling out a big 50 Million Euros for the German international. But this transfer does make sense for alot of reasons, Arsenal were in need of a CF and also need a little depth in the attacking midfield area. Ozil can play behind the striker and along the midfield line, the type of versatility you don't see these days. He's great at unlocking a back line and his passing range is sublime, plus he has a alright shot too. Many gunners hope he can push Arsenal to a title run but it will take time, no doubt he will bring extra motivation to fans and players. Arsene Wenger really shut up alot of people with this transfer and he hopes the 24 year old can deliver.
3. Asier Illaramendi (Defensive Midfielder)
Illaramendi wowed many football pundits and fans with his preformances for Real Sociedad and the U-21 Spanish national side. He's a composed passer of the ball and can dispossess an opponent with ease at times. Many feel he's the second coming of Xabi Alonso, its fair to say that but he is his own type of player. Instead of pushing up the pitch Asier like to sit in a little pocket between the midfield and the back line. You can call him a water carrier of sorts, bringing the ball from one side to another. Even though Real spent 38 Million Euros it seems like good karma has hit him. Starting DM Alonso is going to be out for 3 months with a broken metatarsal. With only Sami Khedira and Casemiro as true DM's Asier can find a easy road to a starting role in the beginning of the 2013-2014 season.
Worst Transfers:
1. Gareth Bale (Winger/Forward)
Around the world football fans feel Real Madrid C.F. have highly overpriced the 24 year old Welshman Gareth Bale. During the 2012-2013 season he won the PFA Young Player of the Year & PFA Players' Player of the Year and scored 21 Premier League goals. I understand that he won those and finished third in the scoring charts, but is 100 Million Euros a realistic fee for him. Around 60-70 Million Euros would seem a realistic fee for him as one player accomplished more than him at the time he moved to the same club. That player is Cristiano Ronaldo, who Bale draws alot of comparisons to, from the hair-style to the free kick technique. Ronaldo won what bale won but added 3 Premier League titles, 1 FA Cup, 2 Carling Cups, 1 FIFA Club WC, and the all important UEFA Champions League. Now if Gareth stayed one more season and had the same form i would understand the fee, but after one season he's worth 100 Million Euros. Hopefully he proves me wrong as he seems like a nice guy and wants to win trophy's like everyone else.
2. Christopher Samba (Centre Back)
There's one thing that agitates me in the world of football, and that's players who leave for outrageous prices after one season at their previous club. Samba is a case where he only stayed half a season, HALF A SEASON, at English club QPR. Over the past year and a half he's played for 2 teams, Anzhi Makhachkala & QPR. After that tumultuous half season at QPR where they ended up getting relegated, he moved back to Anzhi. The combined price for him over those years was 28.8 Million Euros which is a little more than Tiago Ilori's and Mamadou Sakho's transfers combined. What makes this even more outrageous is the fact that he's going to move to another club. This club is another Russian Premier League side named F.C. Dynamo Moscow, only time will tell if he can prove himself and not give up on a team.
3. Thiago Alcantara (Centre Midfielder)
Don't get me wrong but Thiago is an amazing prospect for the future and has a alot in store for the world of football. But his transfer to F.C. Bayern Munich for 25 Million Euros really doesn't make sense to me. The Bayern midfield is stacked and has few spots to give up. Plus the starting lineup includes one of the best midfielders in the world, Bastian Schwiensteiger and one of the best young holding midfielders in Javi Martinez. I understand that Barcelona's also had a stacked midfield, but he could easily have gotten a starting berth in the side. Alcantara is one for the future for club and country so i hope he can prove many wrong including me with his play on the pitch.
© AaronWilliamsRBSJORNALISM
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