Transfer Talk: Half players, half truths, full nonsense

By: Bob | June 20th, 2007

Paying close attention to the transfer talk from around the world of football is enough to make a blogger lose half his brain, something this blogger can hardly afford to lose. Mental risks fully acknowledged, we forge on with today’s transfer stories featuring custody battles, lies, denials and the occasional signing or two.

It must be difficult owning half a player. How do you decide which half to own? The right? The left? The top? The bottom? Roma no longer have to worry about such decisions now that they have bought the half of David Pizarro that had been owned by Inter Milan. Does that mean that Inter will get Christian Chivu in return? Despite initial reports that is not necessarily the case.

The co-ownership fun doesn’t end there. The flavor of the month Fabio Quagliarella is owned by Sampdoria and Udinese and those two clubs will do it Ebay style to determine which one can then turn around and sell him to Manchester United or Roma for a higher price. What a system they have in Italy!

Making sure that we will read his clients’ name in the headlines for the rest of the summer transfer season, the agent of Ricky Kaka has proclaimed that his client would be more than happy to play for Real Madrid.

There is a lot of chatter involving players in France and the one that has everyone talking is the apparent offer of Lyon’s Florent Malouda for Chelsea’s Lassana Diarra. Before you jump for joy or head for the nearest cliff, you should know that Lyon have scoffed at the idea that a deal has been reached. Stay tuned.

Also in France, Racing Lens have signed Croatian international keeper Vedran Runje and the speculation is hot and heavy at Lille.

How would Fernando Torres and Diego Milito look in a Liverpool uniform? They probably would look silly if they shared the same uniform but my guess is they’ll each have their own uniform if they do, in fact, sign with the club.

Diego Forlan didn’t exactly set the world on fire the last time he played in England, but that isn’t stopping Aston Villa and others from going after the striker who has demonstrated a lot more scoring punch the past couple of seasons with Villareal.

Does the name Jose Luis Calderon ring a bell? Not really, but the 37-year-old Estudiantes striker could be the latest to join MLS if you are to believe the reports that the Colorado Rapids have offered him a one-year deal for $1.5 million. I find it hard to believe that they would offer him anything close to that. Other things I don’t believe in: evolution, grammar, and long walks on the beach.

Toronto FC also may be close to signing Trinidad and Tobago international Colin Samuel.

You want news from the world of Bundesliga transfers? We’ve got news!

Middlesbrough striker Aiyegbeni Yakubu, a player whose last name is similar to the name of a sushi joint in my neighborhood, may or may not be the target of a £10million offer. That would buy a lot of sushi.

Juventus have sold defender Federico Balzaretti to Fiorentina for $5.1 million. Meanwhile, the Old Lady have bought the full rights of Cristian Molinaro from co-owners Siena (more co-owner fun!)and signed him on for five years. The Juventus news doesn’t stop there. They are also reportedly interested in spending too much to land Alberto Gilardino from AC Milan.

River Plate captain Fernando Belluschi could be heading to greener pastures in either Napoli or Steaua Bucharest.