Tangeni1/London
New players, new managers and at some clubs new owners, new chairman and new fans, the cheque book time is over as clubs face new challenge on the pitch. Over the past three months clubs have been busy adding, rebuilding and setting targets for the new campaigns which at many clubs can only be seen through at a cost of millions if winning of trophies is the realistic target.
The Catalan based football club Barcelona dominated the end of last season winning La liga, the king’s cup and Europe’s clubs most prestigious competition the UEFA champions league, becoming the first club to bank a treble in Spanish football history. Enjoying success and ruling the world with faith on a vast majority of home grown players, Barcelona’s summer only saw the arrival of few new faces and star striker Zaltan Ibrahimovic joining from Inter Milan while Samuel Eto’o Barcelona's most feared striker leaving as part of the deal. However over in Madrid,Real Madrid where Raul is still the king, the lack of attractive football and success in terms of trophies prompted changes in the club hierarchy.
Well trusted and a proven accomplished businessman, Florentino Perez returned with refined approaches to bring back attractive football and trophies at the Bernabeu. Accompanied by his loyalists and club’s old boys on his arrival, the club saw changes in the coaching staffs and arrival of eight new players to help Real Madrid in emulating their arch rival Barcelona fc. Most importantly by winning the club tenth European trophy that seems to have eluded them. Having tasted success as a president and reknowned to be a star signing in his galacticos era, Perez wasted no time in delivering his first signing of the new challenge in the Brazilian kaka, a world cup winner decorated with loads of individual honours and a great future ahead. The fee paid for Kaka service surpassed a world record 78 million euro he once paid for the Frenchman Zinedine Zidane who is currently part of his advisory team.Even though Kaka's capture was massive, Ronaldo’s arrival in Madrid from Manchester attracted all and glued many around the world to the Bernabeu.
The Portuguese international arrival was imminent when he expressed his desire to quit old Trafford and Carrington for Valdebebas to fulfil his childhood dream became the most expensive player in the world when Florentino Perez paid £80millions to acquire his service, maintaining real Madrid status as the king of transfer records possibly even for decades ahead. Many more signings and big money players followed to bring the total spending at £ 219.8million, but whether money will buy success for the hungry and desperate real Madrid only time will tell.
In England and Premier league, departures have evidently disturbed starting with Newcastle united relegations to Coca Cola Championship, Ronaldo departure to Spain and Xavi Alonso adios to anfield.Adebayor’s departure to Manchester City from Arsenal may have just had cost a number of headaches as well. Manchester city shook the entire premier league and signs of intends by making serious bid and signing quality and championship players,and opponents are aware.
Although many experts and pundits have tipped Mark Hughes man for the top four finish this season, the league look wide open as Chelsea looks to be the most serious threat in all competitions eve though Tottenham hotspurs looks well equipped and equally balance in all departments surprises are part of the game just as their arch rival Arsenal showed against Everton boasting only one new acquisition.
The best players come at a price and to achieve every club needs resources. Certainly Barcelona is still the team to beat in Spain and european competitions but whether their striking force without Et’o will still be the same and dominate as usual, so far so good as young Pedro and company take on responsibilities and show no concerns.
In La Liga Raul showed his class and why he is still the king and indispensable at the Bernabeu with a goal in La liga’s opening week, but whether Manchester City will finish in the top three the Premier League and compete in the Champions League next season, Robinho and company have a point to prove as they are still unbeaten although the season is yet to heat up.
