Is Luis Figo about to become the Premiership's latest footballing mercenary?
Luis Figo, former Portugal captain, and Galatico, could be about to make the move to the Premiership. Newcastle and Bolton are showing a keen interest in the winger after he has been told he is surplus to requirements at the Bernabeu.
But is Figo really keen on the move to the Premiership, or just willing to play where ever he can find his final big pay packet, before he calls time on an illustrious career? At 32, and after a poor season in Madrid, it appears that Figo is on the way down, so if he has always wanted to give the Premiership a crack, why has it taken him so long? After their recent experiences with Patrick Kluivert, you would have thought that Newcastle would have learnt their lesson.
Figo's salary expectations, said to be an annual $4.6 million, appear to be a potential stumbling block for many sides linked with him. It is an obscene amount and furthers the idea that the Premiership is in Figo's sights only because it may match his fee.
The Portuguese great has a year left on his contract in Madrid, but is not in the manager's plans. If he really had the appetite he suggests, would it not have been worth riding out the storm. After all how long do managers last at the Bernabeu? Luxemburgo's position is tenuous at best, and overtures have been made to Rafael Benitez. Is it not possible for Figo to continue to give it a go in Madrid?
He has been giving the usual spiel over the Premiership as he prepares to make the move. "I have always said that the Premier League is a competition that I would like to play in some day and that has not changed."
"The Premier League has improved a lot in the last few years and many of the best players in the world have signed with clubs in England."
Are you getting Deja vu? because I am. Where have I heard it before? Oh yes, from almost every aging European star in the mid 90's. These statements were made by so many, including many who could hardly be considered stars, in an attempt to get a final pay day. It was a running joke in Serie A, that once they were over the hill in Italy, it was time to move to England.
Figo has graced the highest stages in world football, and reached his peak in a fantastic Euro 2000 campaign. He could well be the only one of Portugal's Golden Generation to have fulfilled his potential. So given that, am I being overly harsh?
He has recently returned to the national team - perhaps a sign of his continued desire. He is certainly a fine player and has shown his ability to recover from criticism in the past. In Euro 2004, after being subbed and slated following Portugal's opening match, he went on to have a superb tournament. Beckham chose to criticise Carlos Queiroz's training regime at Madrid and blame his lack of fitness and preparation for a poor tournament. But Queiroz was quick to point out that Beckham had missed countless sessions over the final month (too busy wearing thongs and sarongs), where Figo had been at every single one.
Had it been two years ago and Figo was on the of a Premiership move, I would have been delighted and waiting with anticipation. But now at the stage of his career and with the options open to him it is difficult to escape the feeling that Figo is just eyeing the cash. Hopefully he will prove me wrong in the coming season. Then again he could just move to Qatar and that would answer the question for all of us.
(Extracted from Goal.com)
Luis Figo, former Portugal captain, and Galatico, could be about to make the move to the Premiership. Newcastle and Bolton are showing a keen interest in the winger after he has been told he is surplus to requirements at the Bernabeu.
But is Figo really keen on the move to the Premiership, or just willing to play where ever he can find his final big pay packet, before he calls time on an illustrious career? At 32, and after a poor season in Madrid, it appears that Figo is on the way down, so if he has always wanted to give the Premiership a crack, why has it taken him so long? After their recent experiences with Patrick Kluivert, you would have thought that Newcastle would have learnt their lesson.
Figo's salary expectations, said to be an annual $4.6 million, appear to be a potential stumbling block for many sides linked with him. It is an obscene amount and furthers the idea that the Premiership is in Figo's sights only because it may match his fee.
The Portuguese great has a year left on his contract in Madrid, but is not in the manager's plans. If he really had the appetite he suggests, would it not have been worth riding out the storm. After all how long do managers last at the Bernabeu? Luxemburgo's position is tenuous at best, and overtures have been made to Rafael Benitez. Is it not possible for Figo to continue to give it a go in Madrid?
He has been giving the usual spiel over the Premiership as he prepares to make the move. "I have always said that the Premier League is a competition that I would like to play in some day and that has not changed."
"The Premier League has improved a lot in the last few years and many of the best players in the world have signed with clubs in England."
Are you getting Deja vu? because I am. Where have I heard it before? Oh yes, from almost every aging European star in the mid 90's. These statements were made by so many, including many who could hardly be considered stars, in an attempt to get a final pay day. It was a running joke in Serie A, that once they were over the hill in Italy, it was time to move to England.
Figo has graced the highest stages in world football, and reached his peak in a fantastic Euro 2000 campaign. He could well be the only one of Portugal's Golden Generation to have fulfilled his potential. So given that, am I being overly harsh?
He has recently returned to the national team - perhaps a sign of his continued desire. He is certainly a fine player and has shown his ability to recover from criticism in the past. In Euro 2004, after being subbed and slated following Portugal's opening match, he went on to have a superb tournament. Beckham chose to criticise Carlos Queiroz's training regime at Madrid and blame his lack of fitness and preparation for a poor tournament. But Queiroz was quick to point out that Beckham had missed countless sessions over the final month (too busy wearing thongs and sarongs), where Figo had been at every single one.
Had it been two years ago and Figo was on the of a Premiership move, I would have been delighted and waiting with anticipation. But now at the stage of his career and with the options open to him it is difficult to escape the feeling that Figo is just eyeing the cash. Hopefully he will prove me wrong in the coming season. Then again he could just move to Qatar and that would answer the question for all of us.
(Extracted from Goal.com)
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