Transfer News for 7/20/2011

By Jacen
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Well, so far this summer, transfer news has been... a bit lackluster. However, in the last week or so, there have been some noteworthy moves that deserve a mention.


We'll begin by focusing on a single club, and all of the players who are supposedly leaving it and heading toward it. And that club is CF Barçelona.

Sanchez with Udinese

Alexis Sanchez, currently a striker and key player for Italian side Udinese has officially been signed by Barça for a reported 27 million Euros plus variables, and an official announcement is expected in the next few days. The Chilean international, who recently finished international duty with the rest of his nation after elimination in the quarter finals in the Copa America, is expected to make the trek to Camp Nou for pre-season training within the next few days. While the 22 year old's skills had also reportedly caught the attention of Man United and Man City, as well as Barça rivals Real Madrid, it appears that Sanchez will be playing for the blaugrana come the new season. The Sanchez move also comes in the wake of continuing negotiations between Bojan Krkic and AS Roma, and as the days tick by, we await the official statement that the 20 year old Krkic is heading to Italy from Barçelona. The Hunt for Cesc Fabregas continues. Or rather, Barçelona's hunt for Fabregas continues. It seems everyone in Europe, with the exception of the staff at Arsenal, want Fabregas back in Spain. Several players, including Barça co-captain

Xavi and Fabregas... destined to be Team Mates?

Xavi Hernandez and Cesc himself have been letting everyone within earshot know: Cesc Wants to Be at Barça!! And it seems that at last, The Gunners might be relenting. Pep Guardiola has himself said that negotiations are underway, and things are looking very hopeful. We will have to wait and see just how much longer Cesc will be forced to "suffer" his time at Arsenal. And at last, we come to Neymar.

The Brazilian faux-hawk sporting striker has been linked with numerous clubs in Europe over the past several months, yet he has finally put his foot down and said that he will not be leaving Santos, his boyhood club, anytime soon.

Carlos Tevez celebrating a goal for Man CIty

In other European news, longtime Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has recently played down rumors that Dutch international Wesley Sneijder will be joining the Red Devils for the new B.P.L. Season. While the deal had looked to be finalized, with Inter even naming their price, Fergie released a blunt statement Monday where he literally said: "Forget it." Over on the blue side of Manchester, the deal to trade Carlos Tevez from English giants Man City to Brazilian legends Corinthians has officially fallen through. The deal, reported to be worth 40 million Euros, was said to be reached on Monday, yet nothing else failed to materialize before the Brazilian Transfer window closed. While Man City manager Roberto Mancici has stated he expects to reach a deal for Atletico Madrid's Sergio Aguero sometime this week, it appears that Tevez, now 27, is going to remain at Man City for the upcoming Barclay's Premier League Season. The hole that is expected to be left at Atletico from Aguero's departure will not be there for long. Tuesday brought the singing of young striker Adrian Lopez from Segunda Division club Deportivo La Coruna, who were relegated last season. Meanwhile, over in Germany, Fußball-Bundesliga club Borussia

Will Jozy Altidore finally find a home at Alkmaar?

Moenchengladbach has signed Japanese forawrd Yuki Otsu from J-League side Kashiwa Reysolvon. American midfielder Michael Bradley, who is currently signed with the German club, has been recently linked to a number of clubs in the Italian Serie A, including Bologna and Roma. While Bradley's Italian agent Paola Alberto Faccini has stated that "For now, he [Michael] is a Borussia player" a move for the 23 year old American looks like it could be on the horizon. Another American whose future is looking much more certain is 21 year old Jozy Altidore. The striker, who has played for 4 clubs over the last 3 years, has signed a 4 year contract with AZ Alkmaar, in the Dutch Eredivisie. Initial rumors about the move came when Altidore posted a message on his twitter account about the difficulty he would experience in learning dutch.


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images courtesy of goal.com



Jacen Curathers is a writer, co-editor and co-founder of the Captain's Armblog. He enjoys reading, drinking himself into a stupor, and playing as a fake, unrealistically talented version of himself of FIFA 11. He invites readers to email him anytime at thecaptainsarmblog@gmail.com.

The CAB's Spotlight On The Pele Vs. Messi Debate

The CAB's Spotlight will be a recurring piece on hot topics in the football world. The first post is in regards to the Pele vs. Messi debate, because unless you live in a hole with no connection to the outside, it's constantly shoved down your throat. And it's all Pele's fault.

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By Kayla

It's a trend all over the world in all sports, professional and amateur.  Anytime an athlete rises to prominence with their display of skill, talent, and grace people take notice and begin making comparisons to players who rose to fame before them or with them.  There have been plenty of debates and comparisons in the football world.  Recently the most prominent debate seems to be that of the Pele vs. Messi debate, mostly because Pele himself can't stop talking about it.

It's no secret that Pele is pretty outspoken.  When he's not giving advice to budding football stars, he usually likes to remind people that he is the best footballer in the world, although a threat seems to be on the horizon.  Lionel Messi has been suggested many times to be the footballer to touch the untouchable.  So how does Pele respond?  As anyone who's legacy is threatened would respond: by bagging on the opposition. The general consensus: Pele doesn't like being compared to Messi and he never shies away from a chance to cut down the young Argentinean.

The most recent gem he's provided is that Messi would need to score more than 1283 goals (Pele's career total) before Messi can be considered better than Pele (also that Pele hopes Neymar doesn't end up like Messi by performing well for his club but not delivering the goods for his country).

Like the fool that I am, I started to do the math to break it down statistically.  Then I had a revelation.  Comparing statistics is ridiculous in this instance.  Not only is Messi's career far from over while Pele's is fading from memory everyday, they also represent two different eras of football.  The game has changed drastically since Pele ended his career in the late 70's.  Also it's not fair to compare two totally different players.  They have their own individual styles that work for them and them alone.  Plus, I hate doing math.

Pele has been atop his throne for quite some time, but it's inevitable that someone else will come along.  That's certainly not to undermine the wonderful career that Pele had, but time will bring about a new player who will rise to the same amount of fame and success, if not surpass it.  Messi is a legitimate threat to Pele's legacy.

In short? I hate debates on who is the better player, Pele's record won't forever stand, and math sucks. Hard.

By the way, Happy Birthday, Messi.  Hope you wished for many more goals in your career, even though Pele wouldn't bow to you if you scored a billion.  But hey, can you blame Pele?  Wouldn't you be pissed if you earned the right to refer to yourself in the third person and it was in danger of being overtaken by an atomic flea?



Kayla is a writer, co-editor & co-founder of The Captain's Armblog.  She enjoys eating too many sweets, writing, and defending Fernando Torres. Send her digital candies to thecaptainsarmblog@gmail.com