The Diego Milito All Stars
I was going to name it Ricardo Quaresma all stars but decided at the last minute to name it the Diego Milito All Stars. Basically what this means is much like Diego Milito being picked up by Genoa for a song two years ago below are five players whose value have dropped in recent years but with the right club could prove their worth and end up being sold for a ton of money ala Diego Milito’s transfer to Inter Milan a year later.
Sebastian Giovinco – One of the great things about football unlike basketball is players from all shapes and sizes can play the game at a top level. At five foot five Sebastian Giovinco isn’t the tallest of players but has a world of talent. The problem lies in Juventus playing 25 million a year ago for Diego (he too could join this list in a matter of months) who at 5’8 isn’t a monster either plus plays in the same position Giovinco likes to feature in. A team can have one small player in the midfield, playing two and you run the risk of getting run over by bigger and stronger clubs. Hench the problem with Giovinco where Luigi Del Neri is now the 4th coach in Giovinco brief time at Juventus who will try to find a way to make Giovinco succeed before his talents go to waste.
Clubs I’d like to see Giovinco move too: Arsenal, Genoa
Giovanni Dos Santos – Let’s make one thing clear, Giovanni Dos Santos deciding to leave Barcelona for Tottenham was one of the biggest mistakes a player has made managing his career. When Dos Santos was trying to adjust to life in England Juande Ramos was sent packing and Harry Redknapp quickly grew tired of Dos Santos spending too much time enjoying the night life. Loan moves to Ipswich and Galatasaray followed without much fan fare but it’s when Dos Santos puts on the Mexican national jersey where flashes of his game are on display. At 21 Dos Santos is way too young to give up on but with the crowded midfield at Tottenham it looks like only a matter of time before another club comes calling trying to get the best out of Dos Santos
Clubs I’d like to see Dos Santos move too : Club America, Sporting Clube de Portugal
Joanthon de Guzman – Every other play on this list can be had for less than their talents would suggest they are worth. Joanthon de Guzman can be had for nothing. It’s rare where a 22 year old who has almost cracked the Dutch national team can be had for nothing. Granted there are questions of de Guzman keeping fit since the last two years he has spent mostly on the sidelines but a year ago at this time rumours of a 10 million pound move to clubs like Chelsea and Arsenal were in the papers.
Clubs I’d like to see de Guzman go too – Toronto FC, Valencia
Julio Baptista – In the lead up to the World Cup, Dunga was asked why did he gave Julio Baptista a call up when he isn’t an every game starter for Roma. Dunga simply replied to the effect that Julio Baptista is behind Francisco Totti who is a god in Rome. There lies the problem as Totti isn’t leaving Roma anytime soon. The former Sevilla, Real Madrid, Arsenal man is built like a brick truck whose game is very unBrazilian like but whose talents in midfield are rare to find with his combination of skill and brute strength. Another reason I’m a fan of Julio Baptista is because he rasies his game in big games. Off the top of my head can recall him scoring in the last Copa America final against Argentina and winning goals in key matches for Real Madrid and Roma against Barcelona and Lazio.
Teams I’d like to see Baptista go too – Sao Paulo, Atletico Madrid
Klass-Jan Huntelaar – Two years ago at this time Klass-Jan Huntelaar and Ajax were rubbing their hands just waiting for a big money offer to come in. Six months later after a panic buy by Real Madrid in Janauary 2009 Klass-Jan Huntelaar has been the forgotten man amongst elite strikers. When Florentino Pérez came back into the fold as Real Madrid president players from the old regime had to go in order to make way for Perez’s lavish signings of Kaka and Ronaldo. Off Huntelaar went to A.C Milan where big things were excepted as a dream partnership with Huntelaar and Pato where talked about but the 26 year old produced a decent but not overwhelming 7 goals in 25 games, many of those games having Huntelaar coming off the bench. Ask Wayne Rooney, confidence is a fragile thing for a striker once it goes it takes something special to get it back. Unless Massimiliano Allegri can restore Huntelaar confidence look for plenty of clubs to try and grab Huntelaar at a bargain.
Teams I’d like to see Huntelaar go too – Tottenham, PSV