Deco To Chelsea? What About Lamps?
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by Ea34
Apparently Deco would like to play for Chelsea. At least that's what he told The Sun... Over, and over, and over again. In the same interview, the 29 year-old FC Barcelona midfielder provided all of the following statements. More accurately, he produced the following different versions of a single statement:
- "The Premier League is absolutely on par with La Liga- and playing there absolutely appeals to me."
- "The English league is a possibility and it would definitely be somewhere I'd like to play."
- "There's no doubt that you can compare Manchester United and Chelsea to Barcelona."
- "They are both huge clubs and playing for clubs like that would always be an attractive proposition."
- "The idea of working with Jose again appeals to me." (Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho was Deco's manager on the 2003-04 Champions League winning Porto side)
That's not an interview! That's a contrived, articulate tantrum. In Deco's defense, however, I can kind of see why he felt the need to do this- this may he best opportunity to dictate the next chapter of his career. It has been widely rumored that Deco could be on his way out of the Nou Camp in the summer transfer window, with Newcastle United of the Premiership being mentioned as a possible destination. Staying at Barcelona could be the worst-case scenario for Deco, as his diminishing role at the club, along with club management's desire to overhaul the 2006-07 side that collapsed in the final weeks of the La Liga season and failed to win any hardware, hardly combine to create an idea situation.
With that said, a Deco-to-Chelsea deal would create a whole new series of questions:
- With Deco's arrival at Stamford Bridge, what is the status of Frank Lampard (whose fiancée just happens to be of Catalan decent), who is still awaiting a new long-term deal the like of which was given to team captain John Terry?
- Other than Deco, Andres Iniesta is Barcelona's one true midfield playmaker. Unless Ronaldinho is asked to play further back than he currently does in his attacking midfielder role, who will fill that gap on the squad?
- Would Deco be brought in to serve as a replacement for Michael Ballack, who has been a disappointment at Chelsea is may be a target for another Spanish giant, Real Madrid?
- Despite repeatedly expressing his desire to stay at Arsenal, could Deco's departure free up both money and a place in the team for Cesc Fabregas, Arsenal's all-world playmaker?
I've enjoyed watching Deco play for the side and feel that he's one of the most gifted midfielders in the world. However, if he's not happy at Barcelona, both the club as well as his performance on the pitch are likely to suffer. As a Barcelona fan, any time there is talk of prominent midfielders moving around, I can't help but get excited at the prospect of Cesc Fabregas joining his former Arsenal teammate Thierry Henry at the Nou Camp. While hope spring eternal for such a move, a simple swap of midfielders between Chelsea and Barcelona could benefit each club significantly.
Given their similarities in age and quality on the pitch, Deco's and Frank Lampard's values on the open market are likely comparable, making a potential Deco-for-Lampard swap plausible for both teams without either having to strain too much financially. Also, with Deco expressing such a strong interest in playing at Stamford Bridge creates the perfect resolution to Chelsea's problem of what to do with Lampard, who is pursuing a new, big-money deal.
Finally, we get to Mr. Lampard's personal life. Frank Lampard's fiancée, and the mother of his two daughters, Elen Rives, was recently rumored to have broken of the couple's engagement. In this instance, he's not a millionaire footballer, he's a guy who presumably doesn't want to de dumped by a woman he loves and already has a family with. What better enticement could he give her to reconcile than making the move to her homeland?
This may all be just idle speculation that culminates with nothing happening between the two clubs and me looking like I may need to institutionalized. Who knows? But you must admit that this makes at least a little sense all the way around.
