Maxwell Effect

First transfer of the season: Barça made at last its first move in the summer transfer market signing Brazilian left back Maxwell from Inter Milan for 5 million euros. Maxwell was one of the choices of Guardiola to cover the hole left by Silvinho. This transfer will help Barça both technically and tactically from the very first day. Maxwell is a very offensive player that will create some competition with Abidal for a place in the main team. But the best aspect of this signing is the effect that it will cause on the market. First of all; it is a very strategic signing that didn’t cost Barça too much. In fact, 5 millions euros seems like nothing in today’s market. Second, this signing allows Barça to save money that they were willing to invest for Deportivo’s defender Filipe Luis. Barça put an offer of 9 million euros which Depor’s president considered to be too little. Now Depor ended up losing a good deal and keeping an unhappy player.

Villa will be next: He seems as though he really wants to leave Valencia and want to be in Barça. If he really wants it he will succeed; I’m of the opinion that Villa will break his silence soon and manifest to the media his interest in playing for Barça. Valencia’s president has to look at what happened with Filipe Luis. When a player wants to leave and he doesn’t then he ends up playing very bad; even if his level is equal or better, his mood affects the dynamic of the team. Barça has other options; one of them as attractive as Villa. If Valencia keeps pushing they will end up just like Depor; missing the opportunity of make a good deal and bring money to their account, and keeping an unhappy player. The funny side of this story is that Valencia was asking for 42 millions to Real Madrid for Villa and Barça is willing to leave them 42 millions for the same player and even two players on loan and Llorente [Valencia’s President] still don’t want to negotiate.

Forlan on deck: the second alternative that Barça is considering at this time is Diego Forlan. The two times and current golden boot of Europe has been linked to Barça for years now. Forlan wants to be back at the elite of the world after Manchester United let him go. He is a player that has a lot of resources to score and would adapt to Pep’s offensive style. His signing is probably easier than Villa since they don’t even have to negotiate with Atletico; all Txiki has to do is pay the termination clause of his contract which is 36 million euros. The only negative thing about Forlan is that he currently sits at 30; these things don’t really matter if at the end Barça wins big titles but 30 years still 30 years. Regardless of what happens, Maxwell effect will start to feel soon; hopefully Barça ends up signing players that will lead to the 4th Champion’s League

Florentino Strikes Back

Florentino Skyrockets the Market: when Florentino Perez entered the race to become president of Real Madrid we all saw what was soon to come. Millions and Millions of dollars spent in world class players with the excuse of getting the money back solely on marketing. The man has done it again; 67 million euros in Kaka and 94 in Ronaldo. The truth is that Real Madrid obtained a 300 million euros loan from Banca Madrid of which now they only have 89 since they spent another 36 in Benzema and 15 in Albeol (the only Spanish player). Last year, Barça was able to arm a champion team with 94 million euros; although, the nucleus of the team was already in Barça and it was all made at home through their junior development system. This year however, 89 millions euros are so little that it will give Madrid the chance to buy maybe 2 more players. The effect Florentino is already present; last year, for example, to buy Villa any team would have to pay 30 million; now that quantity seems like a joke. Now for Madrid had to pay 36 millions plus incentives for the Benzema who had a mediocre season overall. Liverpool is asking for “just” 35 millions for midfielder Mascherano and the funny thing is that due to the effect of Florentino’s crazy acquisition it look as if 35 millions were just OK even though a player like that may be worth 25 Millions at maximum in a regular transfer season.

The Almost Perfect Picture: The story seems to have all the ingredients for another epic journey by Real Madrid in the Champions League and La Liga; but there is already a “mole” to the otherwise seemingly perfect body that is this team. One of the mistakes that Florentino had in his first era as president of Madrid was the absence of Spanish players. Saved for Raul, Casillas, Guti and Hierro the rest of the team was made of foreign players such as Zidane, FIgo, Ronaldo, Beckham, Makelele, Panucci, and others. There were Spanish players and they bought Ramos; but Perez always seemed to think that Spanish players were overpriced and foreign players not. His first promise this time was to make a more Spanish team and the man to cause that effect was no other than David Villa. The payment 94 Millions for Ronaldo and 67 for Kaka to make a huge impact; but these moves also backfired when they asked for Villa the response by Valencia was 45 millions which Perez considered to be “too much”. Once again Florentino makes the mistake of underestimating Spanish players once again. They ended up paying 36 millions for incentive for Benzema rather than 42 for Villa who is already adapted to La Liga and scores at least 22 goals per season. Villa is now on the verge of signing with Barça and that will be the first defeat of the “new” Real Madrid. It is subject of envy when you see Barça winning the first ever Spanish treble with not only Spanish players but players made in their youth development system. Real on the other hand is a team made in the banks and despite Florentino’s speech of having learned his lesson it all seems more of the same.

Villa Is “Just A Matter of Time”: that was the heading of Madrid’s newspapers during the confederation cup when their “secret sources” could confirm that Madrid was going to buy Villa. Even Florentino said it that they just needed time to negotiate the overpricing of the player which they were hoping to buy for 28 million euros. Now the situation happens to be true but with Barça’s name instead of Madrid. The player has negotiated his contract with Barça and has already talked with Guardiola of what his role will be in the team. The only problem right now is convincing the president of Valencia who was asking for 42 to Madrid and now he’s asking for 50 to Barça. The player has spoken with the president of Valencia and knows that the player wants to leave; he was put on the market before and now he demands to be transferred. Villa has been very passive but soon won’t be if he’s made to stay in Valencia. The worst part of the story is that this player should already be in Barça who is starting the pre-season in less than 10 days from now. It’s just a matter of time, but Guardiola doesn’t have that much of a time and plan B is there; 30 years old, two times golden boot and Atletico De Madrid’s own Forlan. This summer’s transfer is a long way from over but many feel that more movement should have happened already; Florentino has done it again.