Soccer transfer hits and misses
A busy final day saw moves for the likes of Falcao, Danny Welbeck, Daley Blind, Javier Hernandez and several others.
Here are five recent transfers that caught my eye:
Siphelele Mthembu
Mthembu joined Kaizer Chiefs as a free agent after his deal with Platinum Stars expired. Chiefs were in desperate need of a striker due to various reasons: Knowledge Musona returned to Hoffenheim, Bernard Parker was injured, while Kingston Nkhatha, Matthew Rusike and Katlego Mphela did not hit top form last season. Mandla Masango was not a regular and only started scoring after the arrival of Mthembu at Naturena. However, with Masango suddenly a reliable source of goals and coach, Stuart Baxter, showing faith in Nkhatha and Mphela, Mthembu has been sidelined. Game time will be even scarcer with Parker’s return from injury and with Chiefs signing Ovidy Karuru. This 26-year-old, who made 33 appearances for Dikwena in all competitions last season and scored nine goals, made a wrong move.
Hit or Miss: Miss
Angel Di Maria
Manchester United secured the services of this Argentine from Real Madrid for a new British record fee of about 58-million pounds. After Madrid had brought James Rodriguez on board, many people expected Di Maria to stay and compete with him for a place in the starting eleven, but Di Maria elected to move to Old Trafford. The Red Devils coach, Louis van Gaal, rates the player highly and likes the fact that he’s a versatile attacker. He’s already made his debut and is likely to play a pivotal role in the team this season.
Hit or Miss: Hit
Xabi Alonso
The 32-year-old Spaniard surprisingly joined Bayern on a two-year deal from Real Madrid. I think it’s a clever move for him since Toni Kroos has moved in the opposite direction. If he combines well with Bastiaan Schweinsteiger, they will be a force to be reckoned with. He’s experienced and will be under the mentorship of Pep Guardiola who understands Spanish football.
Hit or Miss: Hit
David Luiz
The Brazillian joined Paris Saint Germain from Chelsea. He has a lot of international experience, having played in the FIFA World Cup and the UEFA Champions League. At PSG he’s playing alongside his national team captain, Thiago Silva. This is a tried and tested combination. Great signing by the French side. Luiz is also a very useful set-piece option.
Hit or Miss: Hit
Issa Sarr
The Senegalese midfielder moved to Orlando Pirates from Platinum Stars to fill the void left by the departure of Andile Jali. He was very quick to adapt at Pirates and has featured in most games the team has played. Sarr marks well and is also a good distributor.
Hit or Miss: Hit
(File Photo:Gallo Images)
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