Say what you like about Cristiano Ronaldo, he can only dream of being as overrated as Emmanuel Adebayor has been this summer.
He is younger, faster, more skilful, versatile, prolific and of course marketable - and considering he is just 23 years of age to the great Zinedine Zidane's 29 at the time of his transfer from Juventus to Real Madrid, the Manchester United ace, if he leaves, should logically break the world record transfer fee.
Let any and every comparison and mention of Ronaldo end there, as meanwhile, an equally dubious transfer saga has almost slipped by unnoticed, that being of Adebayor.
Having signed for the Gunners in January 2006 from AS Monaco for an undisclosed fee reported to be in the region of £3 million, Adebayor had a modest beginning to his Arsenal career, before a disappointing World Cup campaign - in which the supposed star of Togo was outshone by team-mate Mohamed Kader - was followed by an unfulfilling season at Arsenal in 2006-07. The striker scored just 12 goals in 44 games - just over one in four - about half the return expected of a top class striker.
He's still young, he has potential, he needs time, Arsene knows - what haven't we heard before? What was most surprising is that he did in fact come good, and far sooner than anyone had expected. Thierry Henry, club icon and personal friend of Adebayor, left the club due to on and off-field problems, with Barcelona his choice of location for a fresh start. That, coupled with Robin van Persie's continued love affair with the treatment table and new signing Eduardo da Silva being eased into life at the Emirates, made Adebayor the focal point of all of Arsenal's attacks.
It was a role he relished, hammering home a fantastic 30 goals in 48 games. Following words of caution from manager Arsene Wenger - who pointed out that he still misses many chances - the Togo international said he was aiming for 40 next season. Then the interest began rolling in. The man known as the Togonator has been targeted by European demigods Barcelona and Milan this summer - at first laughed off as paper talk - but as quotes from club officials began emerging, Adebayor's overstated loyalty was well and truly put to the test.
Milan chief Adriano Galliani's obsession with the tall, dark stranger has traversed borders of uncomfortable obsession previously reserved for Ashley Cole and mobile phones - and with little reason. The 24-year-old did manage a goal in their Champions League tie this season, but it was into a near-empty net with seconds remaining and the game already over. Having already obtained Mathieu Flamini, the key to the Gunners' Milanese triumph in March, on a free transfer, the Rossoneri seemed determined to throw the saved money away on the Togonator.
However, failure to qualify for the Champions League has left the 2007 winners strapped for cash and unable to meet Mr Wenger's dubious asking price, yet there is ongoing interest from Barcelona. While Italy was said to be Ade's preferred destination, it seems Barcelona will do just as well, as the likelihood of his exit continues to escalate with Arsene Wenger fed up of the striker's demands. Speculation is only likely to let up if Barça, Milan and any others lurking recover some semblance of rationality and refuse to pay so far over the odds for a striker that is still largely unproven.
Better options exist for both clubs: Didier Drogba may be six years Adebayor's senior, but advancing years have been more of a prerequisite than a stumbling block for Milan, while Barcelona have enough emerging young stars to realistically compensate for such a short-term option. Samuel Eto'o, the man looking to be replaced at Barcelona, has been incredibly prolific during his five seasons with the club and could prove a viable and cheaper option for Milan. Adebayor cannot even consider himself in the same league as Mario Gomez and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar - at least until he has repeated his form for at least one further season - so how is he worth £30 million? How is he deserving of a salary in the same bracket or even the same currency as Thierry Henry?
Whether early senility is settling in for Arsene Wenger or just bitterness over Flamini and the reportedly impending departure of Aliaksandr Hleb, this transfer saga would almost be better explained as the Frenchman playing the world's most protracted practical joke on us all. If Barcelona are offering anything anywhere near £30 million, Wenger should take the money and run. Despite the odd Francis Jeffers and Jose Antonio Reyes, the Professor generally spends money better than most, and provided goal-machine Eduardo da Silva recovers full fitness early on this season, Adebayor could be replaced for half his asking price - at most - with very little difficulty, and the remainder of the money could be used to shore up the defence or replace Mathieu Flamini. Take it all in - what Gunners fan wouldn't sell if given the chance?
Wenger's reluctance to let Adebayor leave may now become his own undoing, as he could end up with a player who reportedly wants out - or at least a far bigger salary - yet hasn't consistently produced the performances to earn it. By the time the boss next has the opportunity to offload him, other clubs will have sought out alternative options and his market value is unlikely to be anywhere near the figures being quoted this summer. The entire drama has been a comedy of errors from all parties involved, and it is well and truly on Ade's head to now prove his worth - whether he stays at Arsenal or secures the major move he is said to be after. Can he do it? |
發表於 2008-7-9 11:36 AM
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