Ligue 1 Transfer Update – July 25th
Ligue 1 has lost some star players this summer with the exits of Olivier Giroud and Eden Hazard. Although these players will be missed, the league has imported some truly outstanding players this summer – mainly due to the exploits one club in particular. Here we detail those summer moves and several others from around the league. Jeremy Lim, our Serie A correspondent, will give us an intro on each of the four players to move from Serie A to PSG.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic to PSG
“Pardon the ignorance, but with €25 million, PSG just bagged themselves Zlatan Ibrahimovic, one of the three top strikers in the world alongside Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. One is often hard pressed to find the words to describe the mercurial 30-year-old in full; pure genius, lethal goalscorer, proven winner, crazy madman or just plain mercenary still would not quite cut it in cataloguing the Swedish hitman in his brilliant entirety, but one thing is for certain: Ibrahimovic appears to be on course to finishing his career in Paris as the World’s second highest-paid footballer.
Fundamental to both sides of the San Siro rivalry when he featured first for Inter Milan before then moving to AC Milan, Ibrahimovic played a pivotal role in defining the past eight years of Italian football history into what we know it as today. Capable of popping up with a game-changing strike out of nowhere, yet so often prone to his mood affecting his performances on big European nights, Ibracadabra will strive to ensure Champions League glory does not elude him in what will be one of his last endeavours for the elusive, most prestigious, European club trophy.”
Transfer Rating – 10/10. It is impossible to imagine a player PSG could’ve attracted that could be regarded as superior striker to Ibrahimovic. And for buying literally the best you could possibly attract this moves deserves full marks. A scintillating addition to Ligue 1.
Thiago Silva to PSG
“Italian football has grown to be synonymous with gigantic, unyielding, intimidating or just plain-dirty stoppers, such is the country’s deep-seated roots in the art of defending. No native to the peninsula, Brazilian Thiago Silva has moulded himself into arguably the World’s best centre-back whilst featuring for AC Milan, after moving to the San Siro for €10 million.
Practically a steal given his buccaneering performances for the Italian giants on the way to leading them to the Serie A title in 2011, Thiago Silva has all the attributes to continuously progress with PSG as he enters the prime of his career at 27. A commanding presence in the area, the ball-playing 1.83 metre-tall defender often displays an almost-psychic ability to snuff out danger before it fully materializes, whether via a perfectly timed sliding challenge, astute interception, or towering header clear. In Paris to win the Champions League with former Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti, expect Thiago Silva to be an impenetrable force at the heart of PSG’s defence.”
Transfer Rating – 10/10. Again it is another move that cannot be criticised from a PSG point of view. Silva was a force to be reckoned with in Serie A and is a player who arguably has his best years ahead of him. A winner by all accounts and for PSG a fantasy signing for most has become reality.
Ezequiel Lavezzi to PSG
“The stereotypical Argentine attacker was once hailed as the next Diego Maradona before a certain compatriot by the name of Lionel Messi wrestled the tag from him, there is nothing lacking from the 27-year-old forward’s talent. Packing ability on the dribble with a penchant for producing the unexpected, Lavezzi’s propensity to play on the wing as well as in front of goal to great effect had turned him into a cult hero only second to the original Maradona amongst fans at Napoli’s San Paolo stadium.
Indeed, it was his tactical versatility in playing equally well anywhere he was fielded that so endeared him to the Azzurri faithful throughout his spell in Italy. Given his first taste of Champions League football last season, Lavezzi will be eager to feature prominently in PSG coach Carlo Ancelotti’s plans, on the way to fully establishing himself in his country’s senior national side. If he can muster consistent performances of note both in Ligue 1 and in Europe, the sky is the limit for the man who surely then must come into consideration for a starting berth at Brazil 2014.”
Transfer Rating – 9/10. It will be fascinating to see the dynamic of PSG’s attack function with such a plethora of talent in the form of Ibrahimovic, Pastore and Lavezzi. The two Argentinians brought spectacle to Serie A in their displays. After a somewhat lacklustre display at last summer’s Copa America, Lavezzi cast away any cobwebs of doubt over his ability at the top-level this season as he put in several match winning performances in the Champions League. Injury hampered his rhythm in the final third of the season but make no mistake, he is a special player bought for a very reasonable 30m euros. This signing could also become even more influential if Lavezzi helps to draw out the best of Javier Pastore this season.
Marco Verratti to PSG
“A potential transfer amounting to €16 million – if certain clauses are activated – may seem excessive for a 19-year-old player who has yet to taste top-flight football. And yet, that is exactly the situation Marco Verratti finds himself in as he departs his native Pescara for PSG and the great unknown that is France’s Ligue 1. Featuring as a deep-lying playmaker that has earned him comparisons to compatriot Andrea Pirlo, Verratti packs capable technique in support of his excellent vision and ability to anticipate situations.
Still very much an unpolished gem, the onus is on Verratti to prove he is the real thing rather than mere – and expensive – hype. How he copes with the pressure of so abruptly moving to a big club that plays Champions League football is up for debate, but what is for certain is this: PSG have one of the World’s most talented prospects on their hands, and it will be their responsibility to mould him into everything good he is tipped to become in the future.”
Transfer Rating 8/10. The jury is still out on Verratti and for most clubs this transfer fee on a player with no top flight experience would seem risky. Under Zeman at Pescara last season he oozed class but Zeman has a track history of players over-performing whilst he is in charge, only for them never to fulfil that early potential. Verratti is an exciting talent and playing time at PSG could be the ideal recipe for him to grow. Ancelotti revolutionised the career of Pirlo, keep a close eye on his work with young Verratti.
Marvin Martin to Lille
Martin finally made the move away from Sochaux. After a bit of a hairy season with Sochaux, at times flirting with the real danger of relegation before a strong end to the season, Martin will look forward to playing in a more accomplished side with Champions League football still to play.
Playing beside Rio Mavuba and Balmont at the heart of the Lille midfield, these three could all lay claim to the neatest midfielders in Ligue 1 and to see all three play together will be a real treat.
Transfer Rating – 8/10. If the reports are to be believed then Lille beat off some serious competition to land Martin. He will fit snuggly into the system and is practically hand carved for Rudy Garcia’s passing mentality. It is useless for Lille to trying to fill the void left by Hazard with one payer, instead they are trying to strengthen several aspects of the first eleven and replacing him collectively. A very smart purchase for 10m euros.
Salomon Kalou to Lille
Even though he spent six years with Chelsea, at no point did he ever become an important player for the club. His use lay in his willingness to play anywhere in attack. For the past couple of seasons he looked like a passenger. Just about every Chelsea fan will tell you there are very few players more frustrating than Kalou.
Transfer Rating – 5/10. This is by no means a bad move for Lille and considering they brought him in on a free transfer, there is the potential of a real up side here. With Kalou you never really know what you’re going to get but with more playing time and a consistent run in the team, he could again become the player that made Chelsea chase him in the first place.
Daniel Wass to Evian
After a season long loan at Evian last season, the move was made permanent several weeks ago in a 3.5m euro deal. Wass played all over the place last season – right-back, right-mid and left-mid before filling in as an emergency left-back and settling in that position. He is a Jack of all trades. Adventurous going forward but can be relied upon defensively. Wass wasn’t able to outmuscle either Simon Poulsen or Lars Jakobsen from the Danish starting line-up for Euro 2012 but credit must go to him for making the final 23 man squad. His strong performances for Evian, and his versatility, earned him that. Wass was not short of admirers in the transfer market and it was a bit of a shock to see him end up a Evian permanently.
Transfer Rating – 7/10. By no means a cheap move for Evian but they have secured the services of a young, reliable, versatile and capable player in Wass. The transfer fee he cost them this summer is a sound investment and one that will come back to repay them in the future, both on and off the pitch.