Germany’s midfielder Toni Kroos (L) and Algeria’s forward Islam Slimani vie for the ball during a Round of 16 match at Beira-Rio Stadium in Porto Alegre during the 2014 FIFA World Cup on Monday. (AFP)
DPA/Rio de Janerio
The most valuable player in football’s transfer market made his sales pitch on the biggest stage possible, the World Cup.
Colombian shooting star James Rodriguez said it would be a dream come true to play in Spain’s Primera Division. And after his fourth and fifth goals in Brazil he even showed his preferences. “I like Madrid better than Barcelona.”
But it is not only the 22-year-old striker now at AS Monaco who has given a dramatic boost to his market value during World Cup. Other players are the subject of transfer rumours and speculation.
On the other hand, the German stars are largely out of the running. Four years ago, half the world fell in love with the young team fielded by coach Joachim Loew at the World Cup in South Africa. After the tournament, Real Madrid shelled out some 30 million euros (40 million dollars) for the midfield duo of Sami Khedira and Mesut Ozil. Four of Loew’s 23-man roster changed clubs that summer.
In the meantime, six so-called legionnaires - footballers playing outside their own country - are on the German roster. Four years ago, there were none.
With Philipp Lahm and Thomas Mueller, both of Bayern Munich, having signed long-term contract extensions before this World Cup, the chief interest of half of Europe’s elite clubs is now focussed on their Bayern teammate Toni Kroos. The 24-year-old is keeping mum for now about, saying he would announce his intentions after the World Cup. The rumours were fuelled on Monday when the Spanish paper Marca reported that Kroos was heading to Real Madrid. Kroos’ manager immediately issued a denial.
“There is no agreement, neither with Real Madrid nor with any other club,” Volker Struth told dpa. “Toni is currently playing a World Cup that has absolutely top priority. And there will be no news before this (tournament) is over.”
The role of the top talent being pursued has in the meantime been taken over by a number of Dutchmen who till now had not been much in the news internationally.
Reports say Memphis Depay, 20, and Leroy Fer, 24, might follow their national coach Louis van Gaal when he takes over at Manchester United. And Bruno Martins Indi, 22, is rumoured to be heading to FC Porto.
Experts say the young stars, if they have a strong World Cup, can easily double their salaries. Before the tournament, only the usual suspects among the clubs were seen as ready to go on a spending sprees.
Thanks to the financial clout of its Qatari owner, Paris St. Germain has made Brazil’s David Luiz the most expensive defender in the world. Chelsea meanwhile have lured Cesc Fabregas away from Barcelona for 35 million euros.
England’s financial elite has also underscored yet another trend on the transfer market: left backs are the most precious commodity. For example, Manchester United has forked over a remarkable 37.5 million euros to Southampton for 18-year-old Luke Shaw, who only saw a bit of action in England’s last, and meaningless, group match in Brazil.
For most of Germany’s Bundesliga, paying such sums is utopian. Borussia Dortmund did spend at least 19 million euros for the Italian striker Ciro Immobile, who had little luck with his team in Brazil. Otherwise the clubs are looking more at the smaller countries for new talent. Hanover 96, for example, have signed Chilean defender Miiko Albornoz, who did not see any action with his team in Brazil.
In view of the prices being touted on the market, several German clubs have abstained from the outset from sending any scouts to search for any supposed bargains at the World Cup.
Werder Bremen’s chief of sports operations Thomas Eichin, for example, explained to the tabloid Bild newspaper his club’s restraint: “There are financial grounds for the decision. We can’t pay for those players who come to the fore at the World Cup. So a trip there would not be effective for us.” Europe’s elite clubs, by contrast, are shamelessly vying for the top players in Brazil. One result of this was that England trainer Roy Hodgson imposed a ban on players’ managers in the team camp.
And even fallen heroes may not be left on the outside looking in. Despite biting his Italian opponent, Liverpool’s Uruguayan star Luis Suarez can expect to improve on his salary if Barcelona does sign him.
According to Britain’s Daily Mirror, Barcelona is ready to offer a 40 million pound contract to Suarez - “but only if he agrees to a special ‘bite clause’.”
“The Catalan giants want to snap up the Uruguayan, but are anxious to ensure that his biting days are behind him,” the paper said.