Exciting times ahead
The missing pieces to the managerial merry-go-round that started at the end of last season have now been fitted. As widely expected, Manuel Pellegrini and Carlo Ancelotti have been confirmed as managers for Manchester City and Real Madrid, respectively, and out of the blues former France manager Laurent Blanc has been installed manager at Paris St Germain to take up the Italian’s place.
What that means is that the transfer activity involving some players that was pending for some weeks has now moved into overdrive. Already a few movements have been confirmed and with the transfer window officially opening on Monday, we should be in for a few exciting weeks ahead. We may have witnessed a few interesting moves but I believe the really exhilarating ones are yet to come.
Among the potential big moves in the European summer include those involving the world’s most expensive player Cristiano Ronaldo who is being linked with a return to Manchester United, Napoli striker Edinson Cavani who is attracting the attentions of various clubs—including Ronaldo’s Real Madrid—and the Barclays Premier League Player of the 2012-13 season Gareth Bale who is being coveted by the Whites.
And, yes, there is also the small matter of Luis Suarez’s open courting of the Madrid giants. This will be interesting to watch because with Spanish starlet Isco an already confirmed recruit, it would be interesting to see if Florentino Perez is also willing to buy all of Cavani, Bale and the mercurial Liverpool striker. Of course, given the mooted departure of Gonzalo Higuain for the Arsenal there will be need for a replacement up front.
Another factor in Perez’s persuasion to make a statement in the transfer market is the decision by Brazil’s star Neymar to snub him in favour of rivals Barcelona who ran away with the league title in the just ended season. The pride of Madrid fans is understandably hurt and would need to be placated in some way. So, I would not be surprised if a big name or two were unveiled at Santiago Bernabeu in the coming weeks.
Of immediate interest, however, is this weekend’s final of the Confederations Cup which has gone according to pre-tournament wishes and predictions. It is not often that you get your dream final but here we are facing the final that most people have wanted to watch—Brazil versus Spain. Add to that the bonus that it will be played on the hallowed turf of the world-famous Maracana Stadium and you have the stuff of legends.
In a tournament that was headlined by the performance of Oceanian champions Tahiti, it was refreshing to see strong semi-final fixtures that were closely contested. The all South America encounter on Wednesdaywas won and lost in the dying minutes while the all European match-up was a repeat of last year’s Euro championship final.
As a fan of the Red Fury of Spain since the 2008 Euro championships, I am happy to see them extend their unbeaten run and hope they can claim the only honour that has eluded them so far. They did not exactly distinguish themselves against the Italians on Thursday night and they will need to be at their best playing the hosts for whom a loss is not an option. The hope is that the match will live up to the hype.
I am writing before the end of the African Netball Championships but by the time you read this the tournament will be over. It was a tad audacious to host the tournament but it has passed. Congratulations for that and—in advance—for the win?
