Milan confirm "The Beast" interest

Italian giants and Champions of Europe, AC Milan have confirmed their interest in Real Madrid's Julio Baptista. Baptista is slated to join back with the rest of the Madrid squad who are in pre-season in Germany. He is on an extended vacation as he was participating in the Copa America for Brazil.

Milan officials have confirmed today that they are interested only on a Loan deal for the Beast with a buy option at the end of the year. The news spread that Real would entice Milan to sell Kaka if it is a part deal with Baptista. But Milan President said " We met Real and they have to wait for another 4 years to get Kaka".

Real might be interested to offload Baptista this term, but would prefer a permanent deal to a loan deal as they might be stuck with the same predicament next summer. Baptista is getting the option for first team football and teaming up with Brazilian counterpart striker Ronaldo.

"The Door to Madrid is closed"-Kaka

The 25 year old who was the target of a world record bid of close to 90M Euros said today that he is going no where. He said he met with the Spanish Champions but decided against the move.

Kaka said "I met with Real and Milan were the first to know about it, i have a contract till 2011 and the door is closed, unless Milan wants to re open it"

Kaka also quoted the great Pele by concluding "Money is not everything"

Well true in Kaka's case as he is from a very rich background in Brazil unlike most of his soccer playing national team mates.

He must also be vary of the fact that people who left Milan for other clubs in other leagues around the world have not done well. Shevchenko is the first to come to mind.....

If Madird don't land Robben they are in trouble....

Reyes joins Athletico Madrid

Reyes claimed "I am definitely going to be in Madrid next season, but playing for whom is yet to be seen"

The 23 year old Spanish striker spent an unhappy time in England with Arsenal and was loaned out to Real Madrid in an exchange loan deal with Julio Baptista. When Baptista struggled at Arsenal and returned to Madrid after his loan, Reyes had a decent run with the Spanish Champions. He will be remembered for his cameo substitute appearance in the final league game and scoring two goals to win Madrid the 30th league title.

With Saviola signed and Baptista joining back and Real recalling Spanish striker Soldado from loan, they wanted Arsenal to sell Reyes for cheap.

There was a brief interest from Lyon but Reyes had made up his mind in staying in Spain. He was for the taking of the highest bidder in the Spanish Primera. In comes Athletico Madrid, who had their icon Fernando Torres leaving to Liverpool. Atletico is claimed to have done a deal of 12M Euros with Arsenal for Reyes who signed a 4 year deal and he will be partnering with another new striker Diego Forlan.

Is any player worth 90M??

Well obviously Real Madrid think so. No guesses for who it is. Kaka's financial advisor was quoted as saying that he has asked his client to carefully decide. Real's sporting director Mijatovic met with Milan officials and reports i read claim Real have offered Milan a price which the Italian giants may not be able to reject. This is expected to be close to 90M Euros which may also include Julio Baptista whom Milan are interested in as Eto is not going anywhere. If Madrid have the audacity to do this it will be a record transfer amount ever.

Though real have a habit of being in the news for major transfers i think it is highly unlikely that Madrid will shell out so much of money for a single player. A club which has made 83M in profit last year and hoping to double it this year would definitely not go for such a big investment. Real have a few names in the top ten transfer amounts paid, actually with all the big money clubs like Chelsea, the top two names are still transfers that Real made. Real paid Juventus 46M pounds for Zidane which is close to 65M Euros followed by number 2 Figo for whom Real parted with 38.7M pounds.

Real have been silent this term in the transfer market, not that they have not added to their roster. They have signed 3 players for free and shelled out 30M Euros for Pepe, which in particular attracted lot of criticism that Madrid is blowing up the transfer market. Well i agree with the response by Madrid president, Madrid paid the same amount for Sergio Ramos to Sevilla last term and he is a young exciting prospect. If Juventus can spend 32M for Buffon in 2001 and Man U can spend 29M for Rio Ferdinand in 2002, well 30M in 2007 is not a big amount.

But 90M for Kaka? Well i see an ulterior motive in this. Real desperately need an attacking midfielder. Schuster is keen to add a left sided midfielder so that he can play Robinho or Higuain on the right and is a coach who is against playing a left footer on the right. He is looking for someone to fill in the hole Zidane has left and the two people identified are Robben and the young Drenthe from Feynoord. Chelsea have said that Robben needs to sign the new tabled contract within 7 days or will be sold before the transfer window closes. Real by diverting their attention to other players are trying to catalyst the Robben transfer or indeed they are really desperate.

As Schuster mentioned "i would be comfortable if i had Robben already in the team". Well sure Real need a feed player in midfield. With the transfer window closing soon, it needs to be seen what Real can pull off...

Premiership here is Eduardo Da Silva

All Premiership fans here is Arsenal's new signing Eduardo Da Silva. In one of my earlier blogs i mentioned that no one knew how good Eduardo is. One of my friends pulled up this site in her search and i realized i need to do better in the statements i make. I did a research on this guy and came up with a video, a collection of his 32 goals in 34 games last season for Dinamo. The Brazilian born Croatian primarily a left footed striker has all the Brazilian flare and now has earned some valuable European experience. Here is a link for the Video....


http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1294158413584139017&q=eduardo+silva&total=286&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=0

Here is Pepe

Real Madrid paid Porto 30M for this Brazilian, centre back and here is one reason why....

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-875077002710291068&q=Pepe+man+utd&total=6&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=0

Freddie Ljunberg joins West Ham

The longest serving Arsenal player has left for West Ham after almost 10 years with the Gunners.

Arsenal has cover in the Right Midfield though Rosicky plays in a very attacking role. Ljunberg was injured for the major part of last season. Wenger is lucky he is losing the swede due to Henry leaving and it is not one of the important players such as Fabregas.

Fabregas confirmed that he discussed with Real Madrid, but decided to stay back with Arsenal.

Ljunberg has been one of the pillars of Arsenal in the last decade or more along with the likes of Bergkamp, Vieira, and Henry all three of whom are not with the club anymore.

Arsenal have been slow to get off the transfer market, with limited cash and the liabilities from a new stadium. The only new signing is Eduardo Silva and looks like Wenger will be competing for everything with a side less Henry and Ljunberg.