Edith Arias
The Paw Print
The life of a soccer fan goes like this: you find a team you like, you start tuning in to their matches, you begin to notice key players, and then finally go on to become a major all around fan. Everything is great until you hear that your favorite player is getting transferred. Welcome to the wonderful world of transfers, where heartbreak is common.
Last week marked the closing of the transfer window for clubs as their rosters were finalized. Many of the major soccer clubs in the world took advantage of this window and perfected their rosters. Some of the transfers were so sudden. Players were sold and their identity was changed overnight. Club by club here are a few of the most shocking transfers in the soccer world.
Manchester United: The most popular football club in the world made a variety of questionable transfers this summer, but they were also able to acquire some great players to their mix.
Chicharito:
One of the most shocking yet predictable moves was Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez’s transfer to Real Madrid. Chicharito will join the Spanish super team on loan for a season, but if all goes well he could become a permanent member of the team. Real Madrid has first choice to buy after the loan is up. Hernandez didn’t receive much playing time for United, but when he did he was able to perform well and score. If Hernandez gets more time on the field, he could make a name for himself at his new home.
Kagawa:
In 2012, Shinji Kagawa made history by becoming the first Japanese player to join the club. He performed well in the club, but it wasn’t enough to earn him a starting position. Because of this, Kagawa is another player leaving United. On August 31st he made his move over to his former club Borussia Dortmund.
Nani:
The Portuguese player became a member of United in 2007 and since then has become a well-known player for the team. He found early success playing alongside Cristiano Ronaldo. When Ronaldo was signed to Real Madrid in 2009, Nani stepped up and began to perform very well. On August 19th it was announced that Nani would be returning to Sporting CP.
Real Madrid: The Spanish giant was also fairly busy during the transfer window. The following were the most shocking decisions made by Real.
Alonso:
Xabi Alonso joined Real Madrid in 2009. He was able to gain a starting position in the club and perform well. During his four seasons with Real, Alonso won two Champions League tournaments. On August 29th it was decided Xabi would make a move over to Bayern Munich in a two year contract.
Di Maria:
Di Maria joined Real Madrid in 2010 when he made the move from Benfica. Since the beginning of his first season at Real, Di Maria was considered a threat. He was a fundamental part of the starting eleven as he was able to create many opportunities for his teammates up top. His second and third seasons, however, suffered in comparison. He had a hard time playing at the same level, but had bursts of genius. During his last season with Real, he was able to regain his original reputation. On August 26th, Di Maria signed a five year contract with Manchester United.
Rodriguez:
The Colombian 2014 World Cup star made his transfer to Real Madrid on July 22nd by signing a six year contract worth approximately 80 million euros. His dynamic style of play will make him a great asset for Real. The 22-year-old has a bright future in front of him joining soccer superstars, Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale, and Toni Kroos.
Other noteworthy transfers:
Sanchez:
After a stellar performance during the World Cup, Alexis Sanchez signed with Arsenal on July 10, 2014. He should be a great addition to the team.
Luiz:
David Luiz leaves Chelsea in an 85 million dollar contract to Paris Saint-Germain. His strong defense will be able to reinforce his new teams back line. His five year contract was record breaking for a defender.
Suarez:
Luis Suarez made headlines this summer during the World Cup when he was caught biting an opposing player for the third time. His actions earned him a nine game suspension from international competition. Even after his bizarre actions, Suarez managed to sign a 127 million dollar contract to play with Barcelona. If he can control his emotions, his style of play should add to the team.
The world of soccer transfers was filled with much excitement as players left their teams to venture on to new adventures. It will be exciting for fans to see how their favorite players perform on their new platforms.
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