Vitolo signs for Atletico Madrid for €40 Million but will join in January

Atletico Madrid face a transfer ban until Jan 2018

Vitolo confirms a loan deal to La Liga side Las Palmas until 1st Jan 2018

⚽ **TRANSFERS: La Liga 2017/18** ⚽

Player: Vitolo 

Age: 27 years

Position: Left/ Right Winger

To: Club Atletico de Madrid 

From: Sevilla FC 

Transfer Fee: €40 Million

Loaned out to Las Palmas until 1st Jan

Report

Spanish Club Atletico Madrid may have been given a transfer ban at the wrong time this season. A team wanting to compete among the best in Europe will have to go for half a season without signing any new first team players. Barcelona suffered a similar situation in the summer transfer window in 2015.

But that wouldn’t stop them from signing players who can be eligible to play for them in January 2018. They have exactly done that by signing Spanish international Vitolo from Sevilla for €40 Million, and have decided to loan him to Las Palmas, a club he began his career with.

Vitolo and his former employers ended their professional relationship on controversial terms. Sevilla had reported that the player had signed a 5 year extension and just 2 days after he moved to Atletico. Sevilla have reportedly taken legal action against the player, Atletico as well as Las Palmas, especially after the player himself went to pay off his own release clause.

Career Statistics

• Vitolo was perhaps Sevilla's best player in La Liga as well as Europe ✔
• He has played for 4 seasons with Sevilla ✔
• Managed to make 177 first team appearances ✔
• For a wide player, he has scored an impressive 25 goals ✔
• More impressive is his tally of 45 assists ✔
• Last season, he managed to make 43 appearances ✔
• Scored 6 goals and once again an impressive 10 assists ✔

He is becoming an ever present player in the Spanish National Team after winning 11 first team caps and already registering 4 goals and 2 assists.

Vitolo’s Winger abilities

• Atletico have had problems on the Right Wing since a long time ✔
• They played a makeshift Right winger with Saul for majority of last season ✔
• Atletico have struck a sweet deal by signing Vitolo ✔
• Hemay not be the quickest winger but he is very creative down the wings ✔
• Always looks for assists ✔
• He is a goal poacher ✔
• Makes himself available in the box ✔
• Has dead on accuracy on goal ✔
• Equally good with both feet ✔
• Highly important for his adaptability on both sides ✔
• He appears to be Atletico’s assist king come January ✔

Breakthrough in the Atletico Attack

As mentioned earlier, Atletico were in dire need of a natural winger not a makeshift one. The brilliant Yannick Carrasco looks set to continue on the left winger and what a partner he would have with Vitolo on the right. They both would prove immensely important for creating goals for Atletico’s talisman Antoine Griezmann, that is if he stays with the club.

Atletico will put in a fierce challenge for the La Liga and the Champions League this season. Despite the transfer ban, they have a star studded squad who can keep them stable until January when they start bringing in new faces. Vitolo would also have to prove himself in his loan move to get into the Atletico attack.

Wishing him all the best with his future!!!

Previewing the French Super Cup final between AS Monaco and PSG!

Trophee Des Champions 2017 Preview

Fixture: AS Monaco Vs PSG

Date: 30/7/2017

Day: Sunday

Time: 12:30 am (IST)

Venue: Stade Louis II (Monaco)

French Football kicks off with a blockbuster fixture! 

Last year’s Ligue 1 Champions AS Monaco take on French Cup winners PSG.

This fixture is an important one for both clubs as they would want to kick-start their campaign with a win and add a trophy to their cabinet. There’s bad blood between both sides wanting to always prove that they are better than the other

Head to Head Fixtures

Played: 47

AS Monaco wins: 19

PSG Wins: 13

Draws: 15

AS Monaco Losses: 13

PSG Losses: 19

Monaco has the edge despite PSG’s stunning performances in recent years against their rivals Monaco. However, in Ligue 1 last season, PSG failed to win against Monaco, with a loss and draw.

However, in the French Cup semi-finals, PSG absolutely battered a weak Monaco side 5-0 and they would want to take revenge for this loss.

AS Monaco 

They had a pretty decent pre-season, winning 2 games, drawing 3 and suffering one loss. A huge 4-2 win came against Premier League side Stoke City. The players would be ready to face their French Rivals despite a number of first team departures.

Two players who would be at the center of the spotlight would be Striker Kylian Mbappe and Winger Thomas Lemar. Both look set to start the game despite their recent transfer links.

Their new signings would want to prove themselves with starts expected for Youri Tielmans and Terrence Kongolo.

PSG

The former French Champions were gutted losing out the Ligue 1 to Monaco last season as their star names failed to perform in all important fixtures.

The club has recently been involved in the news with a move for Brazilian and Barcelona superstar Neymar. Despite that, they will want revenge against their rivals and will try hard to come out with a win.

Last year’s Player of the Season and Golden Boot winner Edinson Cavani who scored 35 Ligue 1 goals, would want to begin his campaign with a flying start.

New signings Dani Alves and Yuri Berchiche would also want to begin their campaign with a starting role in the back four, and especially capture their first trophy for PSG.

Possible line-ups

             AS Monaco                                                               PSG

Prediction

AS Monaco (1-2) PSG

Monaco has a very young side in comparison to PSG’s first team. PSG may edge the game and win their record 7^th French Super Cup.

All the best to both teams!

Dani Ceballos signs for Real Madrid in a deal worth €17 Million!

Dani Ceballos unveiled as a Real Madrid player at the Bernabeu!

He has signed a six year contract!

⚽ **TRANSFERS: La Liga 2017/18** ⚽

Player: Dani Ceballos 

Age: 20 years

Position: Central Midfielder

To: Real Madrid FC 

From: Real Betis 

Transfer Fee:  €17 Million

Report 

On 14^th July 2017, La Liga Champions Real Madrid announced the signing of Central midfielder Dani Ceballos. He was presented in front of the fans at the Bernebeu on the 20^th of July.

The 2 big Spanish giants; Real Madrid and Barcelona were linked with a move but Ceballos turned down a move to the Catalans and opted to sign with Champions League winners. After publicly admitting it, he has already made himself as a popular favorite with the fans.

Career Statistics 

• Previously played with Spanish side Real Betis ✔
• Made his competitive debut at the early age of 16  ✔
• Since then, he has gone on to make an impressive 105 appearances  ✔
• Scored 7 goals and registered 9 assists  ✔
• Last season in La Liga, he made 30 appearances, scoring 2 goals  ✔
• One of them was an equalizer against rivals Atletico  ✔

He came to Real’s attention while playing for the Spanish U-21 side in the European Championship. He made 4 appearances anchoring the side to the final in a losing effort against Germany. His performances saw him crowned as the Player of the Tournament and he then decided to sign for Madrid.  

Ceballos’ midfield brilliance 

Dani plays as a box-to-box midfielder who can be an outstanding player for the future Real Madrid midfield. Though, he may not be a great long range passer but he is clever in making his runs. For Spain, at one point, he took on 6 players dribbling the ball from the half way line to the penalty box. So he can drive at the opposition through the middle with his trickery. There is future midfield star in the making at the club.

Replacement for Luka Modric 

Luka Modric, Real Madrid’s anchor man has been a loyal servant to the club for 5 years. Still at 31, at his peak, Real have already bought a possible midfielder to replace him in the future when Modric decides to hang up his boots. Ceballos has all the qualities to succeed Modric in the future.

Real Madrid has made a smart signing this window especially in the rising transfer market. Getting him for such a relatively small price will work well for them in the future. Ceballos is another future Galactico in the making! 

Wishing him all the best with his future!!!    

Theo Hernandez makes the switch from Atletico to Real!

Theo Hernandez's arrival further intensifies the bad blood between the Madrid rivals

He was finally unveiled at the Bernabeu in front of thousands of fans!

⚽ **TRANSFERS: La Liga 2017/18** ⚽

Young Offensive Fullback

Player: Theo Hernandez 

Age: 19 years

Position: Left back

To: Real Madrid C.F. 

From: Atletico de Madrid 

Transfer Fee:  €24 Million

Report 

Real Madrid finally confirmed the deal on 5^th July 2017, young left back Theo Hernandez had swapped red for white. He has signed a six year contract with the La Liga champions and comes as a replacement for the now departed Fabio Coentrao.

The deal had been coming since the past month when Theo had publicly stated his desire to sign for the Champions League winners following a successful loan spell with Alaves.

Moreover, he has made the move from their fierce rivals Atletico Madrid. Theo won’t be popular with his former club as no current player playing for their cross town rivals would be. His brother Lucas is still signed with Atletico which will see the emergence of a new rivalry.

Career Statistics 

• Got promoted to the Atletico first team ✔
• Failed to make a single appearance ✔
• Managed to make 11 appearances in the UEFA Youth League, scoring twice ✔
• Was immediately loaned out to La Liga side Alaves ✔
• Made 32 appearances in his first competitive ✔
• 30 of them were starts ✔
• Managed to score once and register 4 assists ✔
• He scored a consolation goal in the Copa Del Rey final against rivals FC Barcelona ✔
• Stunning figures for a player who is still just 19 ✔

Theo’s marauding abilities 

• Theo is still 19, with a lot of potential to show growth ✔
• Good competition this season between Theo and Marcelo for the starting XI role ✔
• Can learn a lot with Marcelo as his mentor in the side ✔
• As an attacker, Theo is developing into a modern left back ✔
• Has plenty of pace ✔
• Can dribble the ball well from one end to the other ✔
• He can also win penalties by tricking defenders into committing a mistake ✔
• He would be the perfect fullback for any winger to have playing alongside them ✔

His tackling abilities may be questioned at times as he foolishly gives away the ball. He also had a bad disciplinary record last season in La Liga; with 12 yellow cards and one red card. These are the only two qualities he would need improvement at.

If he features against Atletico in the Madrid derby, it will be interesting to find out the reaction he will receive and how it will affect his game. Theo is on the path to become one of the best left backs in the world and a future Galactico! 

Wishing him all the best with his future!!!