Couple of fast switches here.
Alberto Aquilani moves to the Reds on a 20m transfer. He will come with a reputation as an exciting playmaker, a long range threat, and an excellent deadball expert. Rafa on Aquilani:
“He can play a little bit higher than Javier Mascherano – maybe between him and Steven Gerrard.
“He has good passing – the final ball is good – and he also works. If he can settle down properly in England he can be a very good addition.”
Carving out a name in a Roma team full of creative midfielders is not easy but Aquilani has done it. He also brings valuable international experience. The only weak link is an ankle injury which needed surgical intervention this May. He has not played since March and has been restricted to 14 appearances. Usually rehabilitation of ankle injuries take up to a year. Match fitness will be an issue.
Klaas Jan Huntelaar finally finds a home away from Real. This time it is the Rossoneri who will try and resuscitate the Ajax centerforward’s wayward career. Stuttgart and Tottenham missed out. Huntelaar was an afterthought in Real’s attack and frankly a criminal waste.
It also leads to a corollary, if you are a Dutchman with talent do not ever take up a Real opportunity. They will dump you. Real’s indiscriminate Dutch policy which should be the target of a criminal investigation has seen Huntelaar, RVN, Arjen Robben, Wesley Sneijder, Rafael Van Der Vaart, and Royston Drenthe languish on the bench. They are good enough for the Dutch national team but not good enough for the club side.