Robinho transfer steals the show

 

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By Simon Overall, 3 Sep 2008 Simon Overall is a Roar Rookie

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 Alex Ferguson, Champions League, Jose Mourinho, Liverpool, Manchester United, Newcastle, newcastle united, Premier League, Real Madrid, Sunderland

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Manchester United may have signed Tottenham striker Dimitar Berbatov for £30.75 milllion, but it was rivals Manchester City that snuck in with the coup of the summer transfer window, bringing in Brazilian striker Robinho for a fee of £32.5 million from Real Madrid.

In a day of high drama, where United were linked with everyone from Wigan’s Antonio Valencia and Lyon’s Karim Benzema, at one stage it appeared the Citizens would steal a march on United after Spurs accepted a £34 million plus bid for the Bulgarian international.

Reports suggested Berbatov was on his way to Manchester (later proved true) to meet with City boss Mark Hughes, but it seemed with Hughes preferring his round of golf that the former Bayer Leverkusen man would be United bound after being spotted at the Red Devils training ground, Carrington.

With City being linked with everyone from Santa Claus, the Tooth fairy, Valencia’s David Villa as well as Stuttgart ace Mario Gomez, it was still a surprise when Chelsea target Robinho agreed a move to Eastlands, right under the nose of Chelsea.

Real Madrid had been angered by the Blues pursuit of the player, once dubbed the ‘New Pele’ whilst still at Brazilian club Santos, and their refusal to sell him to the West London outfit bore more than a passing resemblance to the Real’s seemingly endless desire to bring United’s winger Ronaldo to the Bernabéu.

With barely minutes to spare, Real accepted City’s offer, and the player who had only days ago expressed his desire to join Brazilian World Cup winning coach Luiz Felipe Scolari at Chelsea was on his way to the Sky Blue side of Manchester, in a day also dominated by the news that City owner Thaksin Shinawatra had agreed to sell to cashed up Arab company Abu Dhabi United Group.

Not to be outdone, those reports suggesting Bulgarian Berbatov were at Carrington were proven correct, with manager Sir Alex Ferguson going to Manchester Airport to personally greet the striker, before taking him back to the training ground where he later penned a four-year deal, confirmed after the midnight deadline.

On a day where United made its only major summer signing, the seemingly always-crocked Louis Saha managed to somehow pass a medical at Everton, signing a two-year deal at Goodison Park.

Youngster Fraizer Campbell should have an interesting experience at a Spurs side now decidedly lacking firepower, with manager Juande Ramos letting Berbatov and Robbie Keane go, with the latter heading to Liverpool for £20million.

It looks likely Campbell will see his fair share of European football this season, with Spurs new signing Russian international Roman Pavlyuchenko, cup tied after playing in a Champions League qualifier for former club Sparktak Moscow.

Interestingly enough, Croatian fullback Vedran Corluka also made a deadline day move for £8.5 million to White Hart Lane.

No doubt Spurs are a massive step up for the promising youngster, and the chance to play regular football domestically and in Europe bodes well for United next season.

So in an exciting day for the two Manchester clubs, what was going on elsewhere in England and in Europe?

Most notably Internazionale boss Jose Mourinho signed countryman Ricardo Quaresma from FC Porto, with the former Chelsea boss finally getting his man after showing interest all summer.

Liverpool brought in Espanyol winger Albert Riera, with the Spaniard returning to the Premier League after an unsuccessful spell previously with Manchester City.

In the opposite direction goes fullback Steve Finnan, in another surprise move.

Liverpool’s Ukraine international forward Andriy Voronin was allowed to move to Hertha Berlin, while they also brought in youngsters Vitor Flora on a free and completed a permanent move for Hungarian goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi.

Bolton’s Blerim Dzemaili headed to Italy, while Fulham striker Collins John headed home to NEC Nijmegen on a free, with Fulham’s Russian midfielder Alexei Smertin being released.

Fulham brought in winger Julian Gray on loan from Coventry.

Meanwhile, Hull made a move for Rangers striker Daniel Cousin, who had been linked with a move to Fulham during the winter transfer window, only to be scuppered by FIFA.

Valencia new boy Ignacio Gonzalez was immediately loaned out to Newcastle United who also signed Spanish Under 21 star Xisco from Deportivo La Coruna for an undisclosed sum.

Pompey boss Harry Redknapp got his man, securing a loan move for Lens defender Nadir Belhadj, whilst Sunderland’s Danny Higginbotham returned to Stoke.

Another player returning to their former club was West Ham’s George McCartney, who returns to Sunderland after two seasons in East London.

West Brom brought in AZ Alkmaar defender Ryan Donk on a season long loan with an option to buy.

So after a summer dominated by the “will he, won’t he” move of Ronaldo to Real Madrid, Robinho’s desire to head to Stamford Bridge and Berbatov wanting to come to Old Trafford the window is finally shut.

And we saved the best for last.