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La Liga Loca

A sideways look at Spanish football


Tim Stannard

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Alexis arrives, Bojan blubs & Kaká runs out of credit


Monday 25 July 2011 14:12

There was grinning and gushing, shrieking and spurting in the Catalan capital last weekend, as there was finally something for Barça fans to talk about aside from how stupendously superior they are to every other side on the planet and how much they hate those dastardly dastards over at the Bernabeu.

Alexis Sánchez and Udinese finally came to an agreement with Barcelona in a deal worth €26 million up front, €11.5 million in variable fees and an odd little clause relating to  friendlies worth €6 million that nobody in Spain is really that sure about...

However, Serie A’s balance with Barcelona remains equal, as the Italian league is gaining bowl-haired Bojan, with the little forward being flogged to Roma for not being particularly good over the past couple of seasons.

However, the wee nipper sees things slightly differently, and blames Pep Guardiola for his exit. Coming over all Samuel Eto’o/Zlatan Ibrahimovic, he whinged: “[Guardiola has] not been fair to me many times and that’s one of the reasons I’ve decided to go.”


"Yeah, well you can't flog me, because I quit..."

Up in the Spanish capital, Atlético Madrid are having their usual pre-season freak-out, with a couple of 45 minute long matches against Granada and Besiktas seeing the Rojiblancos twice defeated and twice failing to score - not exactly great preparation for Thursday’s Europa League whopper against Norwegian outfit Stromsgodset. What’s more, Kun Agüero surprised nobody by failing to show up to training as ordered on Sunday.

However there was good news, with the club having an offer to fill the vacant spot on the front of the club’s shirts from Ashley Madison, a company that ‘assists’ those not exactly happy in their relationships in finding 'joy and happiness' elsewhere. 

“It’s a good fit for us,” explained a spokesman for the company where good fits are a speciality. “It’s a club that ends stereotypes and is an innovator.”

AS have once again given Kaká a good old kicking for his somewhat flaccid performances in Real Madrid’s pre-season matches in the USA, claiming the forward “is beginning to run out of credit.” LLL would note that Kaká began having his footballing credit card declined by Madrid fans a good 12 months ago.


Kaka chills out in the LA sun, while some other men play a football match

Meanwhile, “Mou Team 2.0” - as Marca now like to call them - are still trying to bring Neymar kicking and screaming over from South America. despite the Santos player and president being not overly keen on the notion and their manager, Muricy Ramalho, claiming the forward wouldn’t enjoy the technical discipline of life under Mourinho. “The problem with Neymar is that he can’t play in a fixed position,” opined the Brazilian boss on his wandering star.

Valencia have solved their ongoing disciplinary issues once and for all by issuing the famous, but often pointless, code of conduct that will soon be propping open Miguel Brito’s front door to save him from trying to get his key in the lock at seven in the morning.

Finally, LLL had discovered the unluckiest player in la Liga in the form of Rayo Vallecano's Javi Fuego. The midfielder has experienced the process of administration at Sporting, Levante, Recreativo and now with his current club.

“Unfortunately I know quite a lot about this,” sighed the midfielder, who is quite possibly the worst footballer in Spain to ask if you can borrow a tenner...



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About Tim Stannard

La Liga Loca is the playground for the evil, more childish half of Tim Stannard’s psyche to be let loose. The other 50% is a contributor to FourFourTwo magazine, Football365, Sabotage Times as well as other publications such as UEFA Champions Magazine and When Saturday Comes. He is also a regular guest on Real Madrid TV’s Extra Time show and works as a TV producer extraordinaire for hire. To contact Tim directly email laligaloca@yahoo.co.uk

Comments

  July 25, 2011 20:28

mastrilli said:

on the preseason us tour, despite it being disgustingly hot as balls, cr9 was curiously determined and somehow even more satisfied with himself  

  July 26, 2011 18:58

Guerrero said:

Regarding all these poor La Liga players not seeing paychecks, it might be a good business venture for someone to start an agency that facilitates their transfer to the MLS. Given the meh-like technical level of the US top flight, I don't doubt many would easily be at the tip of that category. And, more importantly, they'd all get paid. Just a thought.

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