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There's a hedonistic wind blowing across the transfer window landscape as teams are beginning to succumb to the basest and most immediate delights the transfer window can offer. Toni Kroos was the cover story in the last edition and it's another player headed to Real Madrid that's causing a stir. Real's desires will always be served and the Marquis de Sade himself could have been describing the lustful philosophy of Los Merengues.
Lust's passion will be served; it demands, it militates, it tyrannizes.
And so, once more it is served for a club that never practises prudence nor seeks "stoic" ways in pursuing goals.
World Cup star who commentators desperately tried to pronounce correctly is on his way.
The transfer inspired by the World Cup has finally picked up and hurtled towards inevitability as Monaco's James Rodríguez is close to signing for Real Madrid. He'll be another shiny addition to the Spanish capital club's squad as Carlo Ancelotti prepares to defend Real's Champions League crown. Florentino Pérez has another galáctico to satisfy his need for more, more, and more! Rodríguez was the people's champion of the World Cup and many believe that he should have been awarded the best player award instead of Lionel Messi. The fact that he was also overlooked for the young player award was also baffling even if Paul Pogba had a solid tournament.
It will be a sight to see what Real Madrid will do with Rodríguez, Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, and Gareth Bale. With any expensive addition to Real's team, there must be sacrifices elsewhere. One of this quartet will have their turn as lambs offered to the football gods in the future but for now, they make up a formidable attacking quartet with two from Toni Kroos, Xabi Alonso, Asier Illarramendi, and Luka Modrić supplying them. The addition of Rodríguez will take Real's spending to past €100 million on two players but once again, with the rumours of Sami Khedira and Ángel di María departing, the first team may have an unbalanced look to it.
Carlo Ancelotti will have to find some semblance of balance in the upcoming season.
Failed with one youngster but succeeded with another.
Juventus were close to signing Juan Iturbe but he went to Roma in the wake of Antonio Conte's departure from Italian football's Old Lady. Instead, Juventus have added the talented Álvaro Morata to the squad where he'll compete with the likes of Carlos Tevez and Fernando Llorente for a spot up front. The fee is €20 million and Real Madrid have an option to restore the player to their ranks for €30 million in 2016 and 2017. It's a good move for Morata and he should have plenty of opportunities to build on the promise shown last season. Real's influence once again leaves its imprint on another club's fortunes.
For Juventus, it is a sign of committing to improving the squad but how many players will leave to balance the books? The experienced Patrice Evra has signed on a two-year deal to provide experience and competition. Will Juventus stick with the 352 formation that served the side so well under Max Allegri? It's unlikely but a big question surrounds the Andrea Pirlo's role in the team with the less than cordial relations between the cerebral midfielder and the Bianconeri's new coach.
In other news...
Didier Drogba is returning home to Chelsea and his daddy on a one-year contract where he'll also be doing some coaching as an actual coach instead of a pointy finger experienced footballer type on the training field. José Mourinho and Drogba can spend the rest of the season extolling the excellence of the other on the sidelines while Diego Costa scores goals. That appears to be the plan, anyway. Some players don't want to return to a high profile Ukranian club because of the unrest in the country and the perceived machinations of Kia Joorabchian. This was always going to be a problem for Shakhtar Donetsk at some stage with its Brazilian enclave policy and instability in the country. If Fernando Torres returns to Atlético Madrid he will be welcomed according to utility goalscoring midfielder Raúl García.
Chelsea sign a left-back to the amazement of Liverpool supporters who wonder what a left-back signing will feel like. One day people, one blessed day. Real people's champion, Yaya Touré, is going to stay at Manchester City because of the fans. Not the money. Bless him and don't forget his birthday next time. Oh, and there's something about Mats Hummels, Borussia Dortmund, Manchester United, and £16 million. It makes no sense whatsoever for the player and club but it's being reported and should stop. Elsewhere there are a lot of rumours but nothing concrete so this will be where we leave it for now.
Hopefully coming up next time, The Liverpool Offside's Transfer Round-Up: Mats Hummels Thinks Even Better Than He Looks by Not Going to Manchester United Edition.
