bigmick wrote:Like always, a lot of these issues are interlinked. We held on and held on for the best possible price for Alonso, but we paid a price in terms of being prepared from day one. In so doing we won the big willy contest this time with Madrid, but we may have paid a heavy price for the victory.
Not sure about this argument, Mick, TBPH. I think it's fair to say that Rafa had Gareth Barry in mind as Alonso's replacement, since that was the worst kept secret in football last summer. So, when, by his own admission, Rafa got wind that Alonso wanted to leave in May, I'm sure he was hoping to get the deal done quickly so that he could get Barry signed (based on the sell before we buy scenario discussed above). But, before that could happen City came in big style for Barry and threw a spanner in the works. Some reports at the time suggested we did try and hijack the Barry to City deal at the 11th hour once we got wind of it but it was too late and Rafa lost his ready-made replacement.
So, who does he look to next? Well, according to the man himself, he's had his eye on Aquilani for a long time and so I think the Italian became Rafa's top choice replacement once Barry was gone. Given that the lad's crocked and thus that there probably weren't many other clubs sniffing around, I think Rafa (perhaps under pressure from the owners) opted to bide his time and play hardball with Madrid in order to get the most money out of the deal that he could. Why not? He'd already lost Barry and his preferred next best option wouldn't be ready until September at the earliest anyway so why accept a lower offer for the sake of saving a week or two? Many have said it's a gamble buying a crocked player to replace a key midfielder and of course it is but I think Rafa's thinking long term: as far as he's concerned, Aquilani's the player he wants (now that Barry's gone) and he'd rather get the right player late than the wrong player early.
