OFFICIAL: Forlán to Atlético

For those who don't check the Spanish Transfer thread...it is official, Diego Forlán to Atlético. Marca are suggesting the fee is around 21m. euro. Below is the official word from the Villarreal website. Surely this means the end of an era for Fernando Torres at Atlético. The-Frank-Tavern will be delighted!

El Villarreal y el Atlético de Madrid han llegado a un acuerdo de traspaso por Diego Forlán

El delantero uruguayo pasa a pertenecer a la disciplina rojiblanca

El Villarreal CF y el Atlético de Madrid han llegado hoy a un acuerdo de traspaso por el delantero uruguayo Diego Forlán. El Villarreal agradece a Diego Forlán los servicios prestados desde que hace tres temporadas defendiese la camiseta del Villarreal.

ok... Torres is officially gone now!!

Actually think Forlán is the better striker so good job Atlético!

Oleguerisntthatbad wrote:ok... Torres is officially gone now!!

Actually think Forlán is the better striker so good job Atlético!

Forlán is certainly the better goal scorer. There is a formal announcement on the Atlético website now as well.

£26.5m for Torres. The prices on Spanish players these days, ridiculous.

Kimbo wrote:£26.5m for Torres. The prices on Spanish players these days, ridiculous.

*cough* £16.5m for Darren Bent?

Jaime wrote:

Kimbo wrote:£26.5m for Torres. The prices on Spanish players these days, ridiculous.

*cough* £16.5m for Darren Bent?

Also ridiculous, but not as ridiculous as Torres' price.

Who will Villarreal get now as a replacement?

---------------- Senna
-- Fernandez -- AM -- Pires
------------- ST ---- Nihat

With Riquelme likely to leave as well, I imagine Villarreal have got a good transfer budget to bring in some qualty replacements. With Ayala and Golzalo and the back too I would say they are a definate contender for a top four position next season.

Cesc wrote:Who will Villarreal get now as a replacement?

---------------- Senna
-- Fernandez -- AM -- Pires
------------- ST ---- Nihat

With Riquelme likely to leave as well, I imagine Villarreal have got a good transfer budget to bring in some qualty replacements. With Ayala and Golzalo and the back too I would say they are a definate contender for a top four position next season.

Supposedly they are in for Espanyol striker Raul Tamudo. Don't forget they have Cani for the attacking midfield position. Unfortunately Gonzalo just recently suffered another serious knee injury and is out for six months.

Cesc wrote:Who will Villarreal get now as a replacement?

---------------- Senna
-- Fernandez -- AM -- Pires
------------- ST ---- Nihat

With Riquelme likely to leave as well, I imagine Villarreal have got a good transfer budget to bring in some qualty replacements. With Ayala and Golzalo and the back too I would say they are a definate contender for a top four position next season.

Tamudo is being linked.

Jaime wrote:Unfortunately Gonzalo just recently suffered another serious knee injury and is out for six months.

Again!

I thought he just recovered for another long term injury. Terrible luck for the young player. The times I have seen him he did look good, I really hope he gets back successfully and starts to play consistantly again. Cygan will get a run of games in the team again by the looks of things.

Capdevilla is another good signed by Villarreal. Do they still have Jose Mari?

Forlan for 21mill.?

Good move for Atleti though I agree with TITO that the price is a little steep, for someone who is quite inconsistent. That said, I imagine he will comfortably score more than Torres does.

Have they actually signed R Garcia yet? If so they are building a fantastic team, considering they already have the likes of Maxi, Aguero & Petrov. I hear they're still in for Riquelme as well, though the Quaresma move seems to have all but died down.

Didnt Roman say he wouldnt play for another team in spain.

Cesc wrote:

Jaime wrote:Unfortunately Gonzalo just recently suffered another serious knee injury and is out for six months.

Again!

I thought he just recovered for another long term injury. Terrible luck for the young player. The times I have seen him he did look good, I really hope he gets back successfully and starts to play consistantly again. Cygan will get a run of games in the team again by the looks of things.

Capdevilla is another good signed by Villarreal. Do they still have Jose Mari?

Not sure, but he was certainly still there at the end of the season if that helps. I think that Villarreal should get shot of him though. Over-rated and I can't believe that they balk over Tomassen at 1.5m when they have Jose Mari.

Raul Garcia is an official signing, yes. If it weren't for the fact that they are Atletico, I would be really nervous right now.

Kimbo the price tag will be more around the 20 million mark should Garcia sign for them.

Villarreal also got Capdevila, so their defence is quite decent. Diego Lopez in goal should be an improvement over Viera (how the f@ck did Madrid get 6 million though) and with a midfield featuring Cani, Pires, and Fernandez, and Tamudo pretty much as good as Forlan, I think they can pick up where they left off at the end of this season.

I think next year Villarreal will replace Zaragoza, and maybe even get 4th if Sevilla fall back.

kas wrote:Villarreal also got Capdevila, so their defence is quite decent. Diego Lopez in goal should be an improvement over Viera (how the f@ck did Madrid get 6 million though) and with a midfield featuring Cani, Pires, and Fernandez, and Tamudo pretty much as good as Forlan, I think they can pick up where they left off at the end of this season.

I think next year Villarreal will replace Zaragoza, and maybe even get 4th if Sevilla fall back.

You don't rate Senna any more Kas?

I do, I was just mentioning the goalscoring players in there.

Kimbo wrote:£26.5m for Torres. The prices on Spanish players these days, ridiculous.

Torres is obviously a unique case because he's a huge talent and the club icon for Atletico. If Newcastle were to sell Taylor or Shearer, they'd want a huge premium above that player's true value.

Otherwise I don't think Spanish players are overly expensive. The current exchange rate actually makes it cheaper for English clubs to buy players from Spain (but works against English clubs by making the transfer fees they receive appear smaller, as in the Henry case).

kas wrote:

Kimbo wrote:£26.5m for Torres. The prices on Spanish players these days, ridiculous.

Torres is obviously a unique case because he's a huge talent and the club icon for Atletico. If Newcastle were to sell Taylor or Shearer, they'd want a huge premium above that player's true value.

Otherwise I don't think Spanish players are overly expensive. The current exchange rate actually makes it cheaper for English clubs to buy players from Spain (but works against English clubs by making the transfer fees they receive appear smaller, as in the Henry case).

It was tongue in cheek because of the fuss that gets kicked up over English players fees tbh. I don't blame Atletico for asking for a big fee. It's still ridiculous that a club is willing to pay that much for him though, and it will probably only dent their budget.

Yeah I think they paid over the top but in a way they had to, there aren't many quality strikers available. It's just sad that the price tag and expectations will put him under too much pressure, and anything less than being the best player in the league (which I highly doubt will happen at least for a couple of seasons) will lead to him being perceived as a bad signing by the media.

I certainly do not expect him to be the best player in the league in his first season, I do think he has enough talent to make a big difference though, who knows? he could shine and justify his price tag, it's a signing I am excited about though

Any ideas how much Riquelme will cost?

If A. Madrid can sign Forlan, Raul Garcia, Luis Garcia and Riquelme from the sale of Torres then it will be one of the deals of the summer.

In the right environment, Riquelme is one of the best midfield players in the World.

Villarreal bought him for 10 million from us, so I think it would be around the same, or a bit less if no one else comes in for him.

I also think Riquelme would do well at Inter, playing behind the two strikers instead of Figo.

Luis wrote:I certainly do not expect him to be the best player in the league in his first season, I do think he has enough talent to make a big difference though, who knows? he could shine and justify his price tag, it's a signing I am excited about though

Torres is an excellent footballer but not a good goalscorer. The problem is too often he has had to play as a lone striker for Atletico. I don't see him having success playing as a lone striker or next to a player like Kuyt. For him to really be successful he needs to play next to a real out-and-out goalscorer. Someone like Eto'o or Villa. Assuming he doesn't take the penalty kicks for Liverpool, I would be surprised if he scored more than 10 in the EPL next season.

That's also my expectation of him. 8-10 goals and maybe a few assists.

He bloody better score more than 8-10 goals a season for 40m EUR!
Jesus...
They've signed Voronin for free, and he will score that many if he actually gets a chance to play.

The last I heard was that newly promoted Napoli were interested in him.

How cool would it be if they give him the number 10 shirt and played in that playmaker role behind the striker.