Transfer Fun
166 comments November 12th, 2005
We’ve signed someone.
Carlos Vela, under-17 World Cup winner and the highest goal scorer in Peru 2005, has joined Arsenal on a 5 year deal.
Unfortunately, he can’t get a permit to play in England until his 18th birthday in March 2007, so until then we’re sending him on loan to Spain, most likely with Valencia.
He really is a huge prospect on the Cesc Fabregas scale. Fabregas himself did in fact win the same golden boot award a couple of years back. It will be sometime before we see Vela pull on an Arsenal shirt, but I’m assured that when we do, it will have been worth the wait.
However, in the short-term, it seems we’re looking for a striker. Arsene went to Holland to watch Dirk Kuyt, whilst chief scout Steve Rowley was in Spain eyeing up Fernando Torres.
My conclusion? The players are not dissimiliar, but Torres is undoubtedly of the higher calibre. He himself seems keen: “Arsenal are in the Champions League every season and I want to play against the best teams and challenge for biggest titles.
I admire English football and Iâ??ve spoken to Reyes about how life is in London and playing for Arsenal. The experience has made him a better player and it is something I would like to do in the future if I get the chance.”
However, Athletico Madrid are hardly welcoming our interest, saying “Torres is, and will continue to be our ‘crack’ (star player)”. Kuyt, therefore, would appear to be a somewhat riskier, cheaper back-up.
I’d like either.
Or both, maybe.
Oh, and thank God for this:
