Robben and Heinze in, Cicinho out

I have been late to write on any happenings in the football world or so. I have been travelling and heard most of the news in my transit in Singapore, when i was trying to spent 7 hours in the sports travel lounge. Anyway it was on Friday last week that i heard that Real have finally completed the signing of Dutch winger Arjen Robben. The most anticipated transfer for Real this season has happened. They have been chasing the flying Dutchman from the time the transfer window opened and it was no secret that the deal would be completed the minute Chelsea accepted an offer from Real. I myself have posted a few blogs on Robben's move. Well now Chelsea have finally agreed for a 36M Euros deal almost twice the transfer fee that Real initially offered Chelsea. Robben has signed a 5 year deal with the Spanish Champions, he was expected to play against Atletico Madrid in the Spanish La Liga but was not even in the squad list as he is yet to be fully match fit.

As i have written in my previous blogs, being a big follower of Real Madrid, Robben could definitely be a find for Real. He is a proven winger who has come off a bad spell of injuries at Chelsea. As Robben said in his initial interview with the media that he would like to spend more time on the filed and less time in the dreaded treatment team. Well the Presidential election promise is fulfilled, but would it be a signing the Madrid board will regret and that too considering the amount of money that they have spent.

When i wrote a blog about Man U, i had written that Gaby Heinze could very well end up at Real Madrid as Real are looking for a LB since the departure of Roberto Carlos. The news changed and Heinze's transfer to Liverppol was blocked by Man Utd. 24hrs after an appeals court rejected Heinze's move to Liverpool, the Argentine signed a deal with Real for 4 years. He has cost Real 8M and is a good signing. Though Heinze also comes off almost an entire season off because of a Knee injury he is a LB who can also play as a Center. Drenthe not a regular LB and Marcelo who is the other option the experience on the 29 year old is very valuable for Real.

Real spend a lot of money and expected a lot out of the new Cafu in Brazilian football when they brought in Cicinho from Sao Paulo. After some disappointing outings and last season entirely out due to Injury, the Spanish champions decided it is time to offload him. There are a few reasons evidently that has acted as a catalyst in this 12M transfer to Roma. When Cicinho was out injured last season everyone thought it would be the veteran Salgado the natural RB who would have an extended stint in the team. But to every one's surprise the Real B team player Miguel Torres stepped up to the plate and played almost the entire season. Now this season as a management plan they have brought in re enforcements in the center of defense which in turn frees up Sergio Ramos to play in his more natural RB position. With Ramos, Torres and Salgado in the RB position it hardly makes any sense to retain Cicinho and take up one of the non-European slots. The difference between a Cafu and a current Brazilian RB as Cicinho or Dani Alves is that they are purely attack oriented and the defensive skills are always questionable. The better amongst the two would be Dani Alves.

As Real coach mentioned, it looks highly unlikely that Real would make any more signings in the next couple of days before the transfer window closes for the summer. If i am Schuster i would be happy with Metzelder, Pepe, Saviola, Dudek, Drenthe, Sneijder, Heinze, and Robben as signings before defending the title.