Transfer Deadline: Robinho Joins MAN CITY, Berbatov Moves to United
September 2, 2008 by CLDsport
The transfer deadline has finally passed, and the normal flurry of activity mixed with wild rumours, and fluttering hearts of football fans up and down the country has left us with the biggest shock in deadline day history…..
ROBINHO HAS JOINED MANCHESTER CITY!!!!
The Brazilian has been continuously linked with a move to Chelsea this summer, and the deal did look possible. But, with minutes to spare the Real Madrid midfielder has shocked us all and moved to City. Not one person predicted this move, including us here at CLDsport.
The fee is reported to be a British record £32.4million and he signs on a 4-year deal after Chelsea were not willing to meet Real’s asking price.
The Robinho signing comes on a day when the Eastlands club announced that the Abu Dhabi United Group had agreed to purchase the club from current owner Thaksin Shinawatra with a promise of turning City into a top four club within three seasons
Meanwhile, the other big transfer of the deal was one that always looked as though it would happen. Wantaway Bulgarian Dimitar Berbatov moved to Manchester United in a deal worth £30.75million after being left out of Spurs’ last two matches due to a lack of focus (i.e. the fact he did not want to play for the club!).
Unbelievably, Man City seemed to be favourites to land the 27-year-old after meeting Spurs’ £30million valuation with an audacious bid earlier in the day. United, however, were watching closely and offered the £30.75million Spurs wanted, plus a deal that sent 20-year-old hopeful Fraizer Campbell in the opposite direction on a season long loan.
It was evident that Tottenham had to sell Berbatov, it was just a matter of a club matching the North London club’s valuation of their prize asset. Manchester Utd did so, again with minutes to spare.
Berbatov said of his transfer;
“Joining United is a dream come true for me - I look forward to playing my part in helping this club win more honours.”
Earlier in the day, Spurs had announced the signings of Roman Pavlyuchenko for £14million from Spartak Moscow, and Man City’s Croatian defender Vedran Corluka. The 22-year-old is close friends with Spurs midfielder Luka Modric.
“My best friend [Luka Modric] is here so it is a very happy day for me.” - Corluka.
Other transfers completed before the deadline include Liverpool’s signing of left-sided midfielder Albert Riera from Espanyol for a fee believed to be around £8million, while Everton completed the deal to bring Louis Saha in for an undisclosed fee from Manchester Utd.
Rumours surrounding Michael Owen and Joey Barton proved to be untrue. Owen was widely tipped to be on his way to Spurs, but no deal has been announced.
So, the excitement of transfer deadline day is over for another 5 months, and we can all relax again. Some fans will be happy, others disappointed.
Will Spurs have enough firepower with the loss of Berbatov? Will Man City shoot up the table with their capture of Robinho? Only time will tell……
Summary of All Transfers Completed:
In: Blackburn (Bunn), Everton (Saha, Nash), Hull (Cousin), Liverpool (Flora, Gulacsi, Riera), Man City (Robinho), Man Utd (Berbatov), Newcastle (Gonzalez, Xisco), Portsmouth (Belhadj), Sunderland (McCartney), Stoke (Higginbotham, Soares), Tottenham (Pavlyuchenko, Corluka, Campbell), West Brom (Donk)
Out: Bolton (Dzemaili), Fulham (Zakuani, John, Smertin), Liverpool (Finnan, Voronin), Man City (Corluka, Vidal), Man Utd (Saha, Campbell), Portsmouth (Cranie, Christophe), Sunderland (Higginbotham), Stoke (Parkin), Tottenham (Berbatov), West Ham (McCartney), Wigan (Bouaouzan, Nash, Sibierski)
What an exciting transfer news at the end of transfer window. Could you believe it ? Robinho to Man City ? what an unbelievable news.
Don’t think anyone was expecting that one!