The speculation of Lione Messi leaving Barcelona in search of a new challenge became a reality during this transfer window. The talismanic Argentinian eventually departed the Nou Camp for Paris St Germain.
The move signaled the end of a glittering career for Messi at Barcelona. He left the Catalan club with 10 La Liga winners medals, seven Copa Del Rey titles and four Champions Leagues spanning nearly 800 appearances.
The French striker joins his former club in a deal which is currently marked as a loan, but in effect is a transfer as there is an obligatory buy clause in the next summer. Does it indicate Atletci will be letting go of Saurex next summer?
There was a bit of bewilderment when I heard first of the deal involving the loaning out of Griezmann to Atletico Madrid by FC Barcelona. With the mandatory buy clause inserted, this was in effect a transfer camouflaged as a loan deal. But once you take to digest the news, slowly things will start to fall in place.
The biggest concern for me was why Atletic was agreeing to this deal? The fact that we will be strengthening Atletico ( who for the first time in history have become the favourite to retain their La Liga title ) never bothered me. Such is the mess we are in financially. Atletico will be paying his full salary, that's the only thing that mattered.
By awarding Jorginho as the best player in Europe, UEFA has made a mockery of the Best Player Award they award annually. They got it all wrong with the definition of the awards.
So as per UEFA, the Best Player in the whole of Europe in the last season was Jorginho! Yup, try to get your brain to accept that nonsense. Who would have thought we will be witnessing such a disaster class from UEFA!
But then honestly, UEFA's awards have become some kind of joke for some time. At least at the Women's section, it was given to well-deserving players. I am not supporting that because they were all given to FC Barcelona Femeni players, but because they were all given to the best players.
