Transfer Profile: Arda Turan

By: Ryan Bode

 Arda Turan

Old Team: Atletico Madrid

New Team: FC Barcelona

Basic Demographics

Arda Turan has said that it is going to be an honor to play on the same field with Neymar, Messi, and Iniesta. Turan originally started his career off with the Turkish giants Galatasaray. Going through their youth system all the way to their first team, Galatasaray eventually let Turan leave for Atletico Madrid in 2011. The 28 year-old attacking midfielder can be seen playing on the wings or in the attacking midfield. He is also a staple for the Turkish National team. He has been on Turkey’s National Team since 2006, making over 80 appearances including a good showing in the 2008 UEFA Euro’s. According to The Guardian, Arda Turan was named the 38^th best player in the world in 2014. In addition to that, he was the only Turkish born player to be included on this list.

What Was His Transfer Fee?

Atletico Madrid definitely capitalized on the transfer of Arda Turan and made up for the money they lost when Mario Mandzukic left for Juventus. FC Barcelona paid €35 million ($38.76 million) to get the winger from Atletico. Arda Turan is well worth the money though; he is one of the best attacking midfielders still in the game. Also, this is a wise investment as he will be taking the place of Xavi in the starting XI while giving Barcelona more than one good year. He is going to be with Barcelona for the long term.

What He Brings to FC Barcelona?

Arda Turan is best known as a set-up man. He does have an above average outside shot but is best known for his vision, ball-control, and passing. It looks like Barcelona will be using him in the midfield more than on the wings as a striker due to already having Luis Suarez, Lionel Messi, and Neymar. Turan is one of the best at controlling the ball just outside the box. Paired with his brilliant passing skills and touch, he fits right into Barcelona’s one-touch, quick paced offense.

He also brings a fan base that Barcelona has never been able to touch as a team. As one of, if not the best Turkish player in all of soccer, he has many fans that follow him closely from Turkey. Barcelona can capitalize on this market by featuring Turan throughout Turkey, showing him as the best Turkish player on the best team

What Are His Outlooks?

The Good

Already being a huge fan of Turan already, I feel as though with his skill set that this is going to be the true outcome. Turan will be inserted immediately into the line-up in midfield, taking over for Xavi while being able to spell Neymar or Messi in the event of some injury or any other concerns. While his goal numbers will stay relatively the same, his assists numbers will go way up. This will be because he has the best attack in all of soccer finishing of his passes in the box. He will stay at Barcelona for a very long time, helping them get right back into the Champions League final and possibly repeating as Champions.

The Bad

Playing mediocre will not cut it at Barcelona. Turan will have to consistently play his best football in order to keep his spot in the starting XI. Turan is going to start pushing himself, trying to do things like Messi or Neymar and end up falling flat on his face. While trying to look like a better player, he actually becomes worse off. Rakitic will start eating into Turan’s playing time and Barcelona will be looking at a huge waste of money. Then again, I don’t think that will hurt them too much. They are Barcelona and will be able to transfer him for something while still having money due to other activities.

Transfer Profile: Jackson Martinez

By: Ryan Bode

Jackson Martínez

Old Team: FC Porto

New Team: Atletíco Madrid

Basic Demographics:

Jackson Martínez is a 28 year-old striker that has played in many different leagues around the world. Originally from Columbia, Martinez first started with the Columbian club Medellín until he moved to Mexican club Chiapas FC. The Portuguese team FC Porto picked him up from there and has not looked back. His only position that fans see him play is center forward, due to his 6’1’’ frame. He plays for the national team as well, participating in the current Copa América and the 2014 FIFA World Cup as well.

What Was His Transfer Fee?

FC Porto paid only €8.5 million ($9.34 million) for his services and flipped him for a major profit. Atletico Madrid paid a hefty price for €35 million ($38.45 million) which is looks like a heavy price for Martinez. Atletico was willing to pay a hefty price to replace the hole left when Mandzukic decided to leave for Juventus. At 28 years-old, Atletico is expecting him to compete right away in La Liga, which is part of the reason why he was so expensive for Atletico.

What Does He Bring To Atletico Madrid?

He is a younger, better, more expensive version of Mario Mandzukic. He stands currently at 6’1’’, allowing him to go up and get balls in the air where the shorter defenders cannot reach. He follows Atletico Madrid’s run of strikers who know how to score. First they had Radamel Falcao on top, next they got Mario Mandzukic to fill the hole, and now they bring in Martinez. He scored 21 goals in 30 appearances for FC Porto in Premeira Liga (also of note: Martinez has led the league in goal scoring for the past 3 seasons), but what is more impressive is that he found the back of the net 7 times in 8 appearances in Champions League. This proves that Martinez can score goals at the highest level of competition, showing that he will be ready for anything that La Liga throws his way.

One of the abilities that Atletico needs to work on with Martinez is his field vision. Atletico Madrid is more about playing as a team rather than funnel through an individual, unlike the Spanish giants Real Madrid (Cristiano Ronaldo, etc.) and Barcelona (Lionel Messi, etc.). Atletico Madrid has beaten both these teams before, but only by playing as team. Martinez will need to learn to play with others and not hold the ball on for too long in order to achieve success in La Liga.

What Are His Outlooks?

The Good

Jackson Martinez contributes immediately to Atletico Madrid, scoring numerous key goals for Atletico as they make their way to the upper echelon of La Liga. Martinez quickly learns that it helps to succeed with a team rather than on his own. With the plenty of time that Martinez will receive at Atletico, he will be in the running to get the Golden Boot (awarded to the person with the most league goals) with Messi and Ronaldo, which is pretty good company to be in. Atletico Madrid will compete in Champions League as well with help from Martinez. If he learns to play with the team instead of against them, there is a possible Champions League Final spot calling their name.

The Bad

Jackson Martinez does not play well with others. He will still score numerous goals for Atletico Madrid, but his selfish attitude and tunnel vision with the ball forces many of his teammates to dislike him. This causes friction with the team, forcing players away from Atletico Madrid. Atletico have invested too much in Martinez to let him go for nothing, thus making them tough out this bad signing until they can possibly move him for a small loss.

Transfer Profile: Mario Mandzukic

By: Ryan Bode

Old Team: Atletíco Madrid

New Team: Juventus

Basic Demographics

The emphatic striker from Croatia has made many headlines in the past couple years. Mandzukic has moved around from the top teams in Europe all in the past four years (FC Bayern, Atletico Madrid, and now Juventus). The 29 year-old can be seen playing striker most of the time, but is also capable of playing the wings on top as well. He has been on the Croatia national team since 2007 and has participated in two major tournaments for Croatia (2012 UEFA Euro’s and 2014 World Cup). He is also very accomplished, winning Champions League and Bundesliga with FC Bayern along with Croatian Footballer of the Year in 2012 and 2013.

What Was His Transfer Fee?

Juventus is trying to gather up all the strikers that they can get in order to prepare themselves for the impending loss of Carlos Tevez. Juventus bought Super Mario from Atletico for €19,000,000 ($21,2363,300), which is a good buy for a player at this stage of his career.  Atletico Madrid actually lost money during this transfer, buying him from Bayern for €22,000,000 ($24,589,400). Juventus looks really good for getting him under his actual current value (€26,000,000) and Atletico fans are miserable for not profiting on the Super Mario.

What He Brings For Juventus?

He brings a safety net for Juventus when Carlos Tevez leaves to go back to Argentina and if Paulo Dybala struggles in Serie A. Mandzukic also brings a winning mentality to Juventus. While Juventus has dominated the Italian League, Juventus fell just short of winning Champions League in 2014/15 in the finals versus FC Barcelona. Mandzukic knows what it takes to win Champions League since being a part of the FC Bayern team that won the whole thing in 2012/13. He can bring that to Juventus and show the young players what it takes to win it all. Mandzukic also brings the aerial presence that a possession team like Juventus desperately needs. A possession team tends to send more crosses into the box more than other teams, and with Mario standing at 6’2’’, he is one of the taller strikers, allowing him to go above the defense and head the ball into the back of the net. He also is known as a ball hawk, just like Drogba with being able to convert goals within the 5 yard box.

What Are His Outlooks?

The Good

Super Mario not only scores goals through the air for Juventus, but also scores with his teammates. He starts to share his knowledge with the younger Dybala and mentor him, molding him into the future for Juventus. In addition to this, he becomes as good, if not better, than Tevez ever was. Along with having a good foot to shoot with, he converts on many crosses that Pogba sends into the box. Juventus remains at the top of Serie A while threatening to win Champions League again with Mario. Mario will decline a little for Juventus due to his age but it will be much slower than other players, allowing Juventus the possibility to sell him when he is in his mid-30’s for a major profit.

The Bad

Super Mario turns into more of a bench role for Juventus. He will be rotating off the bench between Dybala who will be getting a majority of the playing time. He still will contribute for Juventus through the air and getting headers into the back of the net, while it might not be as much as Juventus hoped to begin with. Mandzukic also slows down at a quicker rate although he is only turning 30 this upcoming season. Juventus, if sold, would make no profit or even take a loss.

All transfer information included in this and other Transfer Profile’s comes from transfermarkt.com