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Nevertheless the very next day he had a meeting with Senor Perez.
He had to get ready for it. The meeting took place as follows.

Cristiano - Hello

Perez - Good morning. So you have finally taken your decision?
Cristiano - Oh yes that was quite obvious wasn't it. Had I not taken the appropriate one I might have been shot down! After all you made an offer I couldn't refuse.



Perez -I must say you are not a dimwit after all. But do you know the implications of this move?

Cristiano - Oh yes. I know. Manchester United have already been disqualified from the international diving fraternity championship and if I am not wrong Real have been awarded a wild card entry!

With all the hype surrounding the biggest players in world football coming to La Liga, the Spanish league is now being considered as the best in the world. Real Mad-rid are going berserk over their transfers signing star after star, but does it guarantee success?

Forget the success, lets concentrate on the teams likely to win the La-Liga this season. Only two teams come to my mind. Real and Barcelona. Certainly, either of these two will win the La Liga this season. To add to that, if one of these teams fails to impress consistently, it will turn into a one-horse race. I can't see both failing.

Compare this with the English Premier League. Certainly not much superstars to show this seaon, but does it matter? If you see the big teams struggling against the weaker ones, you enjoy it! Don't you? This means the fight for the Premier League this season is going to be very very tough.





With United losing Ronaldo and Tevez, certainly they have weakened as a strike force. United's signings have not been big, but they've been tricky. One cannot predict how Owen, Obertan and Valencia will perform. But I hope Ferguson's gambling turns out to be a master stroke.


Chelsea have not been over-indulged in the transfer market signing only Zhirkov and Sturridge as their first-team probables. They have always been a force to be reckoned with over the past few years and I cannot see it changing. Probably, their biggest signing of the summer has been Carlo Ancelotti. Given his past records, he is certainly capable of taking Chelsea past the finishing line as winners.



Liverpool are nowhere to be seen in the transfer market this season because of the 'debt' they had acquired. If they hold onto atleast one of their midfield duo, they are surely capable of mounting a serious title challenge. So, will they be able to break their drought and win their 19th English title?


Arsenal have only signed dependable centre-back Thomas Vermaelen from Ajax. Adebayor's departure has weakened them a little bit. But with Van Persie, Walcott and Eduardo as strikers, they need not worry much. Scoring goals has not ever been a problem for Arsenal, its the defence which was fragile last season. Wenger has signed the perfect player they needed the most and with 1 more month to go in the transfer market, I can certainly see Arsenal signing one more new face. Will the young brigade be able to mount a title challenge or will they have to fight for the 4th spot again. Only time will tell.


High spending ManCity have added some quality players to their squad but I don't think they will finish the season as champions. Breaking into the top four would be huge achievement for them. Tottenham have a great manager in Harry Redknapp and certainly a good enough squad to break into the top four. Everton have been consistent long enough now and it would be stupid to underestimate them.

So, with the champions spot up for grabs and uncertainty about Arsenal's top four status, they are the most exciting topics to talk about his season. So now who says La Liga will be the best???

Targets To Replace Alonso:
With Real hot on Xabi's trail ,there are many linkups in the transfer market with Alonso's replacement.
Here are Rafa's prime targets:

• Javi Martinez : Rafa has been a old admirer of his skills and the energetic Athletic Bilbao midfielder has top European clubs vying for his services. Valued at £12m.

• David Silva : Another of Benitez's long term target - however the playmaker is more adept at playing wide left and behind the striker than the orthodox playmaker role. Valued at £18m.

• Gaetano D'Agostino : The Udinese midfielder is best known for his incisive passing in the centre of the park. However Juventus are also interested in the Italian midfielder. Valued at £12m.

• Alberto Aquilani : Aquilani has just signed a new contract at Roma which would keep him till 2013. The Italian has just returned to full fitness after an injury wrecked season. Valued at £15m.

• Lee Cattermole : The combative English Midfielder is not for sale according to Wigan and may possible be last on Rafa's list to replace Alonso. Wigan are holding out for £8m. He may just boost the English player requirement for the Champions League. More of an adequate replacement for Lucas than Alonso if you ask me. Valued at £6m.

The stage is set for Alonso to leave Anfield. However Benitez would do all he can to keep Javier Mascherano and fend off interest from Barcelona. Mascherano is reportedly unhappy because of his current wages. Benitez is ready to treble his wages and keep hold of him.


This page will be updated whenever we get further news on the story. Stay tuned.

16/07/09 - 0830 GMT
Benitez preparing squad keeping in mind Alonso's departure
Reports in Italy today claim that Liverpool have sent a delegation to Roma to further discuss on the move. Benitez is ready to offer money in the region of £15m

1500 GMT
Agent of Alberto Aquilani has denied reports linking Aquilani to Liverpool saying no contact has been established.

2000 GMT
However we understand Liverpool have sent a delegation to Roma. Our sources confirm Frank Trimboli is one of the Liverpool representatives present in Italy.

17/07/09 - 1600 GMT
Roma manager Luciano Spalleti has accepted that offers coming in for Aquilani will be considered.

"We need to be open and listen to any type of offers that are proposed to us," he said.

"We are not worried, we know what we need to do.

"There will probably be two or three transfer market deals done and I am convinced we will be able to work well."

Aquilani under contract with Roma until 2013 and despite Spalletti's admission, club director Bruno Conti insists no approach has been received as yet.

"The situation as it is right now is that Aquilani will remain until there is a team that makes an offer," Conti said to Mediaset.

"Once this happens then we will see."

19/07/19

Alonso looks set to commit his future to Anfield for another year. We learn that Alonso is hesitant to put in a transfer request because of the relationship he shares with the fans. The Liverpool supporters had given him immense backing when Rafa was about to sell him last summer. Which means either Real produce the quoted £35m or forget signing Alonso.

21/07/09

Exclusive:
We've got inside information that Liverpool have agreed a fee of £15.6m for Alberto Aquilani. We understand that this may be the initial price to be paid and subsequent performance related add-ons may be added later. The accepted offer will enable Liverpool to negotiate further regarding contract details and personal player terms.

30/07/09

We understand that Xabi Alonso has handed in a transfer request. Real have now stalled at their offered fee of £26m. Rafa is still holding out for a possible £35m.
We understand that Real Madrid want to some more time than the 48 hour deadline set by Benitez.

31/07/09

Balague offers more insight to the transfer saga.

Balague said:

"Real Madrid have pushed for Liverpool to extend their deadline on the deal to Monday in order that the Premiership club take time to consider a new player plus cash offer.

"Negredo, Van der Vaart or Huntelaar are the Real Madrid players in question, and the respective fee would depend upon whichever player Liverpool are willing to acept.

"Of the three Madrid players, Negredo would most suit Benitez' need for an additional striker, but Liverpool have always maintained that they have no desire to engage in a player exchange with Real Madrid and that they will only accept a cash payment – and the two sides continue to disagree over that amount as well.

"Liverpool were yesterday sticking to their €35 million (plus €5 million add-ons) valuation, while Real Madrid are still proposing a €25 million deal."

Ferguson has announced that he is not going to buy any more players this summer. Following are the reasons that justify why this is just an eye-wash:

1. He has lost two of his big big players in Ronaldo and Tevez. The 3 players he has bought this season, Valencia, Obertan and Owen, two of them being wingers, are, according to him, enough to fill the boots vacated by Ronaldo and Tevez. According to me, they are not. You just can't see around 45 goals being shared by these three.

2. ManUtd legends, Giggs and Scholes are no longer capable of winning matches single-handedly. They are on the wrong side of 30 and are soon going to retire. So, effectively, two less players in the squad. Giggs, who had a fantastic last term, is surely not going to repeat it at the age of 36.

3. The defence is not a problem at all. ManUtd are secured in that department. The problem is where are the goals going to come from in desperate situations. In these times, Ronaldo always came up with match-winners and helped ManUtd edge the close encounters. Tevez also used to do the same. Ronaldo and Tevez both are gone.

4. Michael Owen, howmuchever a prolific goalscorer he may be, has not had even a decent season for the past 4-5 seasons. To add to that, he has always been injury-prone. So, there is no guarantee that Owen will perform wonders this season.

5. Valencia, is not at all a goal-scorer. He only creates, creates and creates. I can't see more than 7-8 goals from him this season.

Now the gambling Alex Ferguson is doing, is, that he is relying on Berbatov to show his class. Nani and Anderson to step-up. And Rooney to give the goals. I hope his gambling does work. With the current squad, ManUtd are certainly capable of challenging for all the trophies. But to win it, is altogether different.

I expect to see 1 more big signing from Ferguson. Money ain't the problem. He will definitely target 1 big player he sees fit to fill the final piece of the jigsaw puzzle.

The Roman Abramovich owned Chelsea FC has been infamous for its big spending on star-studded players like Shevchenko and Deco who didn't live upto their expectations during their spell at The Stamford Bridge. The Russian billionaire is also accused for changing his managers faster than the songs on his I-pod.

Not much to everyone's surprise, Chelsea signed the 4 time Champions League winning manager (twice as a player) Carlo Ancelotti. Ancelotti has taken charge as the Chelsea manager on July 1, 09. Surprizingly, the big spending Chelsea which is popular as the ageing side of English Premier League, has made big investments for the future in this transfer window. Within a week of his appointment, Carlo has signed the former Middlesbrough 24-year old Goal Keeper Ross Turnbull on a free transfer, Daniel Sturridge, the 19-year old budding striker from Manchester City and 25-year old CSKA Moscow Left Back Yuri Zhirkov for a fee of £18million .

Turnbull's contract at Middlesbrough had ran out and he didn't wish to continue with the relegated Riverside club. He has signed a 4-year deal and joins Hilário and Petr Čech in the Chelsea first team squad. He is seen as the second choice Goal Keeper and replacement for Carlo Cudicini who was transferred to Tottenham Hotspur in January .

Daniel "Danny" Sturridge chose to sign for Chelsea over his former club Manchester City, where the fans had chosen him as the Manchester City Young Player of the Season. Danny believes he has a better scope for improvement at Chelsea and can learn and flourish under the guidance of Chelsea greats like Drogba. Chelsea were lacking in a reliable backup for their strike power in event of suspension and injuries. Franco di Santo and Danny have filled up the void and are seen as the hot future prospects of Chelsea.

As claimed by the fans, Yuri Zhirkov is considered as the best signing upto now. Chelsea has had its weakness on the wings in the recent past. Occasionally, Anelka, Kalou, Belletti, Ballack and Deco were made to play on left wing due to the lack of a full-time winger. Chelsea had signed Quaresma on a season long loan deal in January, but within a short time Malouda recovered from his injury and Quaresma's services couldn't be utilized fully. With the arrival of Yuri Zhirkov, Chelsea has opened up options for the left wing position. Zhirkov is basically a Left Back but the young, talented and versatile player can also play brilliantly on the left mid-field.

The ex-AC Milan manager, Carlo within his first week of arrival at the South London Club has stunned the Chelsea fans with his brilliant transfer moves. With seven more weeks of the summer transfer window open, The Blues can expect many more surprises.

Why is this Deal very good ?

They challenge they face this transfer window is a bit different - they don't need to buy a chunk of squad players this time around - the spine of the team is already in place with :