Diego Forlan Transfers to Atlético

Atlético Madrid, Villarreal, and Forlan’s agent came to a transfer agreement today. The Uruguayan, who is currently in Venezuela for the Copa America, has agreed to join my rojiblancos on a 4-year contract.

Simply put: I think Forlan is a great signing for los rojiblancos. Yes, I will miss Torres– El Niño   has a spot in the club’s history, but he feels it is his time to move on (and frankly I do too) and I respect that. I wish him nothing but success at Liverpool.

Atlético still need to rebuild the midfield- will the club go after their long-term transfer target Ricardo Quaresma? Here’s hoping…

Forlan was born on 19-May 1979 in Montevideo, Uruguay. He began his footballing career at Independiente de Avellaneda before his massive transfer move to Manchester United in January 2002. After a fairly  unsuccessful time in England, he was sold to Villarreal in the summer 2004 where he has enjoyed three fantastic footballing seasons, which included the Pichichi award and the Golden Boot (which he shared with Thierry Henry).

[More on Atleti's striking options once the transfer market comes to a slow-down.]

Forlan & Riquelme to Atletico?

According to a few news sources in the Spanish press, Atlético are close to signing Villarreal’s Diego Forlan and Juan Roman Riquelme. As of this moment, both players are in Venezuela with their respective nations playing in the Copa America, but still very much in contact with their agents in Spain.

Although Forlan has been quoted as saying that he does not consider himself a replacement for Atlético’s much-loved Torres, it seems clear that this recent news leads many to believe that the young striker is on his way out, with England as a likely destination (all arrows point to Liverpool at the moment).

Spanish Football & Sports breaks down the possible deal in detail:  30 million in total, 20 for Forlan and 10 for Riquelme. Villarreal are purportedly keen on Atlético including Colombian international Perea in the deal as well. 

It hurts to admit this, but I’m certain Fernando Torres, our star striker, the player who has represented this club since his emergence from the youth ranks, will be moving on to greener pastures this summer. This is the harsh reality of the transfer market and the frustration in supporting Atlético.

A few days ago, President Enrique Cerezo insisted that the club have received no official bids for the lad:

“Every player has a price and if they pay the transfer clause there is nothing we can do to stop Torres leaving. But at the moment what is certain is that there is nothing going on with Torres and any other club.”

Liar!

Slightly off-topic, but Atleti are apparently keen on having Liverpool include former player Luis Garcia in the deal. For his part, the 29 year old Anfield favorite has been quoted as saying:

“Liverpool are in my thoughts at the moment, but one day I would like to come back, and not to Barcelona, but to Atletico Madrid, who are always in my thoughts,” Garcia told Spanish television.”

June-26 Transfer News

 

AC Milan’s CHRISTIAN ABBIATI joins Atletico Madrid on a one year loan deal– the club’s second signing this summer. He flew to Madrid today and passed his medical exam with flying colors. Benvenuto! This surely means the end of second-choice goalkeeper, Pichu, aka rubbish goalkeeper.

6-25 Headlines

TORRES PLOT THICKENS

MANCHESTER UNITED have entered the race, joining Arsenal and Liverpool, to sign Atletico Madrid’s star striker TORRES. Liverpool began negociations early last week and have been purportedly ready to include DJIBRIL CISSE with a lump sum. Atleti are disinterested in the French striker as they want to replace TORRES with FORLAN.

OPINION: No thanks, Liverpool. Suggesting that the club replace TORRES with CISSE is an insult.

Arsenal might sway Atleti with JOSE ANTONIO REYES and a lump sum of their own thanks to the Henry transfer. No thanks, Gunners, you can keep your Madrista-loving player.

Meanwhile, Atletico have agreed to sell Argentine international LUCIANO GALLETTI for 2.5 million € to OLYMPIACOS. The 27 year old midfielder is eager to begin his ‘Greek adventure’.

June-21 Transfer Rumors & News

 

It was on the English-speaking press yesterday and it has following made it to its Spanish counterpart. Atletico MAdrid’s FERNANDO TORRES is the main objective of Liverpool’s RAFAEL BENITEZ. The English club is believe to possibly offer 26 million €, but is contemplating offering LUIS GARCIA to lower the price tag. For those who don’t know, LUIS GARCIA once played for Atletico Madrid and was a supporter favorite, so the prospect of having him back is quite exciting. Unfortunately, it comes with a cost…TORRES.

The club are set to unveil a new player in a few days. His name is CLEBER SANTANA and he’s a a 25 year old attacking midfielder for Santos FC (in Brazil). I don’t know much about him, but he’s a new addition to the midfield, which is in desperate need of repair. Welcome on board, Cleber.

So far the club have signed talented RAUL GARCIA from Osasuna- a player I look forward to watching next season.

6-19 News & Rumor

 

After losing a UEFA spot in the final two games of the season, Atletico Madrid have extended JAVIER AGUIRRE’s contract by one year. It’s a ‘one last chance’ deal for the Mexican manager to continue to rebuild the squad.

Speaking of Atletico Madrid, yesterday evening RADIO MARCA unofficially announced that JOSE ANTONIO REYES is set to join the club at the end of the week. As a supporter of the club, I cannot understand this at all. REYES is a decent player, but he will receive a negative welcome by the Atleti faithful after his earlier declarations of wishing to stay at Real Madrid (followed by making it painfully obvious that he simply wishes to stay in Spain and play for just about any Liga club that’ll have him). To add salt to the wound, he was the one who secured victory for Real Madrid. I can only imagine that the decision– IF IT IS TRUE– was made well before Real Madrid’s final game.

Javier Arizmendi

JAVIER ARIZMENDI, a product of Atletico Madrid’s youth system, has agreed to join Valencia CF until 2012 after a fairly successful season with Deportivo La Coruna.

OPINION: I’m rather disappointed Atleti didn’t make use of the buy-back clause in his contract.

Players in the Transfer Market

WESLEY SNEIJDER

Fifa World Cup Germany 2006 profile:
“Sneijder is a naturally two-footed midfielder who can create goals and also has a nose for scoring them.
The product of the much-praised Ajax youth system had a huge impact on ‘Oranje’ when winning his third cap.”

UEFA Champions League profile:
“Despite his slight stature, Wesley Sneijder is deceptively strong on the ball and his passing range is enhanced by his two-footedness. Plus he has a secret weapon up his sleeve – free-kicks.”

The lad is eager for a move out of Eredivisie and has been strongly linked to Valencia.  It appears, though, that Valencia did not offer what Ajax would consider a ‘reasonable’ offer. Which club will shell out the big bucks for him? Stay tuned! 

RICARDO QUARESMA

Currently playing for Porto as an attacking midfielder, the 23 year old has attracted the attention of English Premiership clubs, Italian clubs, and my beloved Atletico Madrid. He has ruled out a move to Germany, claiming he does not wish to move to a place with a ‘cold climate’.

UEFA Champions League profile:
“A powerful and skilful Portuguese international winger, Ricardo Quaresma was voted the best Liga player in 2005/06 in recognition for some fantastic goals and performances. “

Wikipedia:
“Quaresma is often compared to fellow Portuguese, Cristiano Ronaldo for the similarities both possess in terms of their speed and dribbling abilities. Quaresma naturally plays as a right winger, due to him being a right-footer, but is also capable of playing as a striker.”

Fernando Torres’ Future

Last Saturday. June 9th,  Atletico Madrid lost a crucial home game to Celta Vigo, 2-3, slipping from the last UEFA spot, with only one more round left.

1 Real Madrid 73
2 Barcelona 73
3 Sevilla 71
4 Valencia 65
5 Zaragoza 59
6 Villarreal 59
7 Atletico Madrid 57
8 Recreativo 53
9 Getafe 52
10 Racing 50

Next weekend, Zaragoza play Recreativo Huelva (away) and Villarreal play Sevilla (away). Both clubs have displayed strong, brave performances in their recent games and are no doubt eager to hold on to their European spot. If Zaragoza and Villarreal win next weekend, Atletico Madrid will miss out on UEFA– a sour end to a truly disastrous season.

Such an outcome will no doubt force FERNANDO TORRES to reconsider his future plans. ‘The Kid’ is a talented player and it only hinders his career to not participate in European competition. Indeed, if he stays with Atletico Madrid will be dubbed ‘a wasted talent’ by pundits.

Many clubs have been following his progress this season, namely Liverpool. According to the Spanish media, manager Rafael Benitez will make every effort to lure TORRES to Anfield now that he has given up hope in recruiting SAMUEL ETO’O for next season’s campaign.

If Atletico Madrid do not win their final game (away to a tough OSASUNA), clubs like Liverpool will undoubtedly bid for the player.

TORRES STATS FOR 06/07 SEASON (Source: AS)
-leading goalscorer with 14 goals
-4 assists