#summertransfers

And it’s over. No more stupid rumors and unrealistic expectations. The wait is over and every team has to settle for what they have until the winter transfer window opens. From the failed deal of De Gea to Madrid all the way to the crazy increase in Serie A expenditures, this summer transfer window was a crazy one.

One thing all the football fans should realize is that the media has a lot to say when it comes to players transferring. One negative article that goes viral can change a player’s perspective of joining and team or it can even influence them. However, the media also spreads rumors that are good for no one and the trend has shifted towards the twitter sources that can bring a better insight to the actual dealings and “under the table” talks.

How has your team ranked with their summer transfers? We will look at the top clubs and how much they spent. If they spent smartly or they panic purchased.

Barcelona

Let’s start with the Champions League winners. The Spanish giants are currently on a transfer ban but they still managed to buy Aleix Vidal who joined them this summer and Arda Turan who won’t be able to play until this ban is over. Barcelona’s season will start with the same formation that ended last year’s treble but still managed to lose the Spanish Super Cup to Bilbao. Barcelona’s market also saw them sell a weirdly unwanted player like Pedro who has been nothing but phenomenal to the team even winning them the European Super Cup coming on as a sub.

Barcelona have lost the plot and if they are planning on repeating last year’s success, there has to be some changes. Pedro was a quiet player who accept his secondary role to the superior MSN but was still unwanted by the manager and club. This is a huge loss in the market for a team that is supposed to be out there defending their last triumphs as every single team in Europe would want their heads now.

Turan will offer Barca a new approach to their play and he would fit in perfectly with the well-established Barcelona system. Turan possess the dribbling ability and is also a very good tactical player when employed correctly. It will be hard if Enrique doesn’t focus because the like of Turan need a great motivator like Simeone.

Selling a good player while signing another one makes perfect sense. But when you are under a transfer ban it becomes bad. The rating given might be considered high, but let’s all take into account that a team under a transfer ban will not be a very attractive destination.

Overall rating: 6.5/10

Juventus

It becomes much easier to talk when we start with the top 4 teams in Europe last season. Juventus have come from 4 successive title in Serie A, 3 Super Cups and 1 Italian Cup. They are runners up of last season’s edition of the Champions League and they have been very busy in the transfer window. Juventus have signed a good number of players to compensate for the departure of three icons (Vidal, Pirlo and Tevez).

Juventus sold players that weren’t motivated anymore to give for the club. Tevez made it clear he wanted to go back to Argentina while Pirlo wanted a new adventure in the US. Vidal is a definite loss for Juve. A fighter on and off the field and the Bianconeri midfield will definitely miss him. But when you get enough players to fix such issues, it’s always a good approach. Talks started about getting Isco, Gotza and finally Draxler, but Juve have settled to someone very familiar with the Serie A when they bought Hernanes from arch rival Inter.  

The new signings like Sandro and Dybala will offer Juve a lot in terms of energy and work-rate. But like any club, Juve might find themselves in 1 or 2 years of no titles as a normal result of minimizing the age limit in your team. Lemina and Cuadrado joined on loan and can be of great assistance to the Juventus midfield especially with free agent Khedira being injury prone. Juve have also made sure to at least keep Pogba in the team while strengthening the backline with Italian talent Rugani. Mandzukic might be a key player if he’s able to copy his Bayern form into the Juve jersey.

Finally, getting rid of excess weight for Juve was key during this transfer window. With FIGC rules changing about co-ownerships, Juve management faced a tough decision and decided to loan out Berrardi for one more year and bring Zaza back to the team. All those transfers mean that Juve needs time to build chemistry and balance themselves. The Juve fans should be very patient with manager and team.

Overall rating: 8/10

Real Madrid

For Real Madrid it will be tough not talking about the change in team management from Carlo Ancelloti to Rafa Benitez. This would be very interesting to watch if Benitez can put his act together and build on a very well built team. The main talk will always be about the failure to sign David De Gea from English giants Manchester United.

Real Madrid let go of a club legend for no apparent reason and without securing a definite sub. Before you let go of what big asset, the club should always make sure that there is a plan B. Keylor Navas is a very good goalkeeper, but even with his blunders, Casillas remains better. The De Gea saga went on for two long and both clubs are now issuing statements to put the blame on one another but the fans really don’t care.

If a team is to be deemed as a winning team, they need to buy the proper players. De Gea is a goalkeeper with class and it’s a shame Real Madrid couldn’t sign him in time. Casillas will leave a big gap especially when Keylor was his substitute.

On the other hand, the signing of Danilo before the summer transfer window and him joining the team will be a good boost for the player’s ability to play different defensive roles. Danilo can play as a fullback, center back and also a defensive midfielder. Such tactical flexibility shall offer Madrid a lot when they are facing tough games and might be 1-0 up.

Kovacic was Perez’s cherry on top of the cake. Madrid need someone who can take a bit of weight off of Modric’s shoulders and that play is Kovacic. He can be a great asset for Madrid and is definitely a huge loss for Inter in their search for titles. Kovacic might be the key for midfield dense approaches and creative approaches when facing packed defenses.

Overall rating: 6.5/10

Bayern Munchen

The Bavarian giants are still going under Pep Guardiola and his philosophy might be understood in time for the Champions League race. The fans of the german giants want more European success and the transfer market shows their intent in attracting the world’s best talents.

It’s a shame that a player of Ribery’s caliber is having successive injuries and he is the sort of player that is hard to replace. His tactical presence and defensive assistance is key to Bayern’s dominance. But Bayern’s scouts have done a great job in attracting the phenomenal Douglas Costa. Not only does he replace Ribery, he offers more eagerness and hunger. His energy is superficial and if he is employed correctly he can end up making the difference for Bayern this season.

Bayern have also signed Ulreich, Kimmich and Lappe who will surely strengthen the bench for Bayern who suffered from injuries last season. Another successful signing is obviously Arturo Vidal. The Bavarian club tried to sign him in 2011 but in all fairness they now get a better, more mature and very well developed Vidal. Vidal’s dominance in mid-field and being arguably the best box-to-box mid-fielder currently will add a lot to Pep’s system. He can even offer solutions in the backline if Guardiola fancies a 3-man formation.

All in all, Bayern have done a great job strengthening both the main team and their bench but they have failed to sign a top class defender and they are already starting to suffer with the injury curse. Dante leaves and so does Shweinsteiger. Two players of different class, but both their absence will be felt.

Overall rating: 8.5/10

Stay posted for the next episode with more clubs!!