Bluffed : Russian Roulette at its Worst!

(Image Source - Sky Sports)

While Robinho’s self sulk led to a less than acrimonious departure from Real Madrid to cash abundant Chelsea Man City was the highlight of a Ronaldo to Real Madrid saga transfer window, perhaps the most significant move was the one that almost never happened. No not Ronaldo, Russia’s golden boy Arshavin filled the gossip rumors for the latter part of the summer. A superb UEFA CUP triumph with club side Zenith St.Petersburg accompanied with two man of the match displays against Sweden and Holland at the Euro’s elevated Arshavin’s status from continental fame to house-hold name - surely this has got to be the fastest rise in fortune. His performance in the Euro quarterfinal against Holland was Maradona-esqe – club scouts pulled their thinning hair out while club chairmen signed blank checks. Despite a relative anonymous display against Spain in the semifinal, the flame had spread.

Within the next week, every big European club was linked to the Russian playmaker – Barcelona, Arsenal, Bayern, Juventus, Real Madrid and Chelsea (though the latter gets linked to every player). While the west couldn’t stop raving about the artful dodger, back east Zenith decided to engage in a game of Russian Roulette with its prized asset.

Following his professed love for Spanish giants Barcelona, the Catalan club tabled a bid of €10mil which was quietly swept under the rug by Zenith – surely the 27 yr old playmaker’s value was triple that amount. Playing hardball with Arshavin’s suitors was fast becoming chic and stylish – bids after bids were reportedly turned down. Resigned to losing Arshavin, Zenith splashed out a Russian transfer record €30mil for 24 yr old Portuguese born Dinamo Moscow playmaker Danny – it seemed the auction was coming to a close. Dismayed by Zenith’s antics, Arshavin did his best to push through a transfer even if Europe’s big boys had dropped their interests. With 2 weeks left in the transfer window, English premier league club Tottenham emerged as favorites – truth be told, they were the only suitors at this period. The €25mil price quote proved to be an expensive gamble – would Arshavin adapt to the physicality of the English game or would he be the second coming of Rebrov.

With negotiations between suitor and parent club headed nowhere, Arshavin issued numerous public attacks pleas towards Zenith in hopes of a transfer yet the €25mil Russian roulette game rolled on with no end in sight. Following the transfer of fellow country-mate Pavlychenko to Tottenham coupled with the exit of Tottenham fowards Robbie Keane and Man Utd bound Berbatov, it seemed inevitable that the lethal striking partnership that put the Swedes and Dutch to sword would be reignited at White Hart Lane but a last minute Texas style hold-em poker bluff by Tottenham left Zenith with egg on its face – the club was stuck with a €30mil replacement signing along with the unhappiest footballer in Russia.

With the winter transfer window approaching, the Arshavin saga rages on – the player has publicly stated he wants out of Zenith and he might finally get his wish sooner than later. Several clubs have had less than stellar starts to their season, a knock down price Arshavin – thanks largely to Zenith – looks like a good investment. While the playmaker might be Cup-tied in Europe, there should be an array of suitors lining up to snatch his signature once the gates of the winter transfer season swing open.