As a new season of international soccer gears up for the fall schedule, fans will encounter some considerably different squads compared to those that competed in the spring. In England, Spain and Italy, especially, summer transfers have rearranged the lineups, the effects of which have yet to be seen.
Perhaps the most newsworthy change this summer was world-renowned Ronaldinho's move from Barcelona to AC Milan. Having won the Primera Liga and the Champions League, Ronaldinho saw an opportunity to succeed elsewhere, not to mention the $10-million-a-year contract he pocketed after inking the deal. Still, many people wonder why he didn't come over to England with Manchester City waving a £23.5 million transfer fee in his face. It is more likely, though, that Ronaldinho was just welcoming a change in the form of a club that has consistently underperformed lately.
Regardless of his motives, Ronal-dinho's move to Italy will align itself well with the return of other star players to AC Milan, such as dynamic Ukranian-born striker Andriy Shevchenko. With Shevchenko, the third-highest scorer in European soccer history, AC Milan seems ready to take back the glory of the Italian League from Inter Milan.
In England, Manchester City's failure to acquire Ronaldinho led to a record-breaking transfer fee of £31 million, or over $60 million, for another Brazilian national, Robinho. Robinho's presence will undoubtedly have a positive impact and make even the top Premier League clubs sweat before a match against Manchester City — a team that has had success in the past against the weaker teams but has rarely been able to take down the League's giants, such as Chelsea or Arsenal.
Robinho, like Ronaldinho, has the chance to turn a weak team into a powerhouse. But it remains unclear why Robinho, coming from Real Madrid, would go to a lower-ranked team rather than a famous British club like Chelsea.
Signing with Chelsea could have proven to be a shrewd move for Robinho, especially considering the major changes to the Chelsea roster that are sure to keep the team in its current position at the top of the league. In addition to the signing of Portuguese native Deco from Barcelona, Chelsea is under the new management of Luiz Felipe Scolari, the former Portuguese national team manager.
After the resignation of Jose Mourinho last year, Chelsea struggled to stay successful; however, a new team and a new manager should help to keep Chelsea fans energized for the whole season.
So far, it seems that teams have reaped more benefits from the transactions than have the players. But Bulgarian Dimitar Berbatov certainly received a great deal from Manchester United. A major success at Tottenham, Berbatov deservedly received an offer from the English League's defending champions. But how much does Manchester United really need him?
A starting lineup that already features Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez in the front, as well as Louis Saha on the bench, hardly needs another striker. Berbatov's acquisition led to Saha's departure to Everton, a wise decision considering that the Frenchman struggled to escape from the shadows of so many other top stars.
It's fairly easy to predict the effects of this year's transactions: Ronaldinho's move will undoubtedly raise the stakes for AC Milan's rivals; Manchester City is likely to move up a few spots in the league table with Robinho's help; Chelsea, which usually dominates the Premier League, will bring new players and gameplans that its rivals are not accustomed to; and Manchester United will undoubtedly look to its newest addition, Berbatov, to be the man that Scolari will fear in this year's games against their English League rival.
Transfers happen every year, but in the end, the rosters at the start of the season don't hold as much importance as the standings at the end of season. But with so many changes occurring throughout Europe and the effects still waiting to be seen, international soccer fans should anticipate an exhilarating season.
