Barça's Transfers and Rumors

[Trickykid]

He isn't. Just a wannabe ITK who spreads the most logical rumours from the most reliable sources as facts from his "sources" and knows how to market himself on Twatter. Claimed that Balanta was almost a done deal in the winter transfer window for example when everyone was reporting that Tata wanted him and Puyol got another relapse and it made sense (remember River's president claiming that Tata told him he wanted a CB?).

Right now everyone and his dog is reporting that Cesc is off to Chelsea while Koke and Atleti's president have ruled out a move of Koke while Bartomeu said it's difficult and Koke's agent said there is no contact with Barca. Which realistically leaves us with only Rakitic so the guy is reporting that Rakitic is close. Nothing to see.

Damnit.

 

[Messi_Goal]

Is Rakitic Left or Right footed?.. looks like he uses both equally as-well which is a novelty for a footballer.

 

[Ursegor]

Hate these Twitter "journalists". So annoying. You just gave a perfect definition of 99% of them.

It's hilarious how many people follow them when it's obvious and logical that there is no such thing as free agents spreading inside information on Twitter for free. People with legit sources are affiliated to big news agencies. Like David Ornstein for BBC.

 

[Sumlit]

Is Rakitic Left or Right footed?.. looks like he uses both equally as-well which is a novelty for a footballer.

I think he's right footed.

 

[footyfan]

+1 its essentially trading a small percentage of through ball quality for 100 times better mobility and workrate in midfield not to mention 1 year age difference

Stop unstoppably touting Rakitic as a player with immense work rate. Here's a couple of posts from the resident Sevilla fan.

Rakitic is a very good player... he plays well and helps the squad a lot. After all, he is Sevilla's captain this season and I admire him, his character and skills, especially his long balls, corner kicks and free kicks (crosses in the box, as he rarely shoots from a free kick). Nevertheless, I can't imagine him replacing Gabi at Atletico. Gabi doesn't seem multi-dimensional and a talented player, or at least he doesn't give one an impression as such. However, Rakitic will never ever in his career even come close to Gabi's work rate during a match. Gabi's pressure, running, marking and fight could not be compared to Rak's, and that is what Rakitic's role actually is most of the time, the DM-CM thing... but he just doesn't do it. He has his sparks, like against Madrid, putting Pepe in shame, but I guess you have seen his first half performance = disastrous. That is Rakitic in most of the matches, in both halves of the game, slow and lazy, but still has those sparks. Would that be enough in Atletico's powerful and winner's machinery ? Probably not.

I fear that if Captain Rak would sign for Atletico, he will not be more than a sub... unless they change their playing style and somehow make way for Rak to slide into the first team. I doubt that very much, considering that Koke and/or Suarez, Thiago are also needed. The only way Rak could play as a first-teamer in Atletico is if they would feature both him and Gabi at the same time, which could happen, but I still doubt since they more or less have the same role. It would mean for one of them to be forced to play more deep or more forward upfront, and that would possibly not turn out to be effective.

That would be quite a change in Atleti's playing style and philosophy. Gabi, Suarez, Tiago, Koke are all tough men in the midfield. Rakitic will never achieve their speed and/or work rate during a match, the man-marking, aggressiveness when needed. He would probably not do more of what Diego is capable of doing currently in Atleti, that's why Diego is benched, because he plays more up front, just as the natural role of Rakitic. He is being forced to play very deep lately for Sevilla because of our first team DM injuries, Cristoforo 6 months and Carrico now will be available in a week or two, shifting Rakitic to the natural AM position. He is crap at playing deep, don't let that RM match trick you because the second half was a whole different story, in the first he was the worst player of Sevilla.

For the record, I completely agree with Antimilan's assessment. I would like to say though that, at 20 million Rakitic would be an absolute steal. His much less talented teammate Alberto Moreno is apparently going for 27 million.

 

[DinhoR10]

If we do get Rakitic I hope that doesn't affect Rafinha too much, he needs games.

 

[ivan_barca]

So we are selling one of the best and homegrown attacking midfielders to replace him with another one,cheaper same attacking midfielder. What`s the point? Simple: We do not have money...

 

[darthvader7888]

So we are selling one of the best and homegrown attacking midfielders to replace him with another one,cheaper same attacking midfielder. What`s the point? Simple: Our board is incompetent

Fixed.

 

[Behrox]

http://www.squawka.com/comparison-m.../fouls_committed/interceptions/clearances#avg

take a look at the stats for CBs

 

[Tomchin]

It's hilarious how many people follow them when it's obvious and logical that there is no such thing as free agents spreading inside information on Twitter for free. People with legit sources are affiliated to big news agencies. Like David Ornstein for BBC.

But you follow them too I think they're quite fun to read, even when some of the stuff they post is fake.

 

[DonAK]

No one and nothing can get close to Indykaila though. Chief.

 

[Ursegor]

Getting Rakitic would be a very good move. He works like a machine. In one of our games this season he closed down and dispossessed Iniesta around his own corner flag like a fullback and also went on to score a goal upfront. He scored in Camp Nou, Bernabeu and Calderon this season. Very complete midfielder. Not a throughball specialist like Cesc but better at many other facets of the game that are more important. Rakitic and Rafinha = instant improvement in pressing, height, physicality and general off the ball play. Now also buy a senior defender and we're fine.

 

[KingMessi]

Speaking of armchair twitter journalists, I see this beauty floating around on twitter.

 

[KingMessi]

Now also buy a senior defender and we're fine.

A fullback would be nice as well.

 

[Ursegor]

But you follow them too I think they're quite fun to read, even when some of the stuff they post is fake.

I actually don't directly. But I read several Barca communities where people post their stuff so I have to read it indirectly. Like in this thread.