Transfer Profile: Carlos Tevez

By: Ryan Bode

Carlos Tevez

Old Team: Juventus

New Team: Boca Junior

Basic Demographics:

Carlos Tevez has had one historic career. The striker has been with West Ham United, Manchester United, Manchester City, and Juventus, but it all started back in Argentina with Boca Juniors. The 31 year-old is returning back to Boca Juniors after being unsettled in Juventus this previous season. Tevez is no stranger to a winning team like Boca Juniors, having won the Premier League title with Manchester United and Manchester City along with a couple of Serie A titles with Juventus. He plays primarily striker for most of his career including for Argentina when they were runner-up’s for the 2014 World Cup.

What Was His Transfer Fee?

Arguably one of the top strikers in the world, teams have been getting for a bargain. First Juventus got Tevez from Manchester City in the prime of his career for only €9 million ($9.91 million). Now Boca Juniors is paying a meager €5 million ($5.50 million) to Juventus for the contract of Tevez. For a Juventus fan I would be seriously angered with the front office management for letting such a talented striker in Tevez to go for less than €10 million ($11.01 million), let alone €5 million. Boca Juniors is getting a very talented striker for not even a bargain. This sale of Tevez is like a going out of business sale for Apple products, the customer gets the highest quality of hardware on the planet for not even a fraction of the costs. The only problem that can be foreseen from Boca Juniors is that they are going to be paying for Tevez with contracts of their youth players, sending them to Juventus. Boca Juniors could be giving up the next Messi to Juventus, but sending them away now to get a talented player like Tevez instead of later and getting nothing is a better use for Boca Juniors.

What He Brings To Boca Juniors?

This part should be titled “What He Brings Back to Boca Juniors?” Tevez is a goal scorer, plain and simpler. He tallied 20 goals in 32 appearances for Tevez, showing that he is a ball hawk. He is the whole package for a striker. He can possess the ball and shoot it from outside the box, finish through the air if given a chance, and even find the open man to create an opportunity to someone else due to his superb field vision. He also brings experience to Boca Juniors as well. Boca Juniors is notable for churning out young talent and Tevez can help mentor the youth due to his experience abroad.

What Are His Outlooks?

The Good

Carlos Tevez continues his spectacular performances into Boca Juniors. The fan base for Boca shoots way up while the club keeps on being one of the most successful teams ever. Tevez contributes to Boca Juniors even further by mentoring the youngsters on what works and what does not work on and off the field. The ideal situation is that Tevez will end his career at Boca Junior after winning a couple of Golden Boots for them and turn into a fantastic coach for the club. What is more likely to happen is that Tevez will follow in the footsteps of Thierry Henry, Kaka, Frank Lampard, and Steven Gerrard to name a few and go to the MLS as his final destination.

The Bad

There is no bad situation for Boca Juniors. The only way Boca Juniors would look on this as a bad signing is if in his first game he snaps his ACL, starts complaining about the organization, advises the young talent to think about themselves and not the team, states that the fans are horrendous, in addition to decapitating the head of the President of Argentina. ALL OF THOSE THINGS NEED TO HAPPEN IN ORDER TO EVEN CONSIDER IT A BAD SIGNING!!!!

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

Transfer Profile: Sami Khedira

Sami Khedira

Old Team: Real Madrid

New Team: Juventus

Basic Demographic

The 28 year-old defensive midfielder joins an already defensively minded Juventus team. Khedira provides an anchor in the midfield, becoming a facilitator rather than a scorer. While his handles with the ball are above average, his vision and passing to find the open guy. While his passing skills are great, defense comes first with Khedira, having a great sense of timing when diving for a tackle. Khedira also has experience in many championship caliber teams. He helped Germany win the World Cup in 2014 along with helping Real Madrid decimate Atletico Madrid in Champions League final in 2013-14.

What Was His Transfer Fee?

This was a free transfer for Juventus. Khedira was easily persuaded to join the Italian super club because of the lack of playing time that he was receiving. Real Madrid just had too much depth at midfield which led to Khedira being low on the depth chart. Khedira dismissed the motion that many believed that his move was based on money. Khedira quoted from the Mirror, “Real Madrid offered me a huge contract and one in which I could have eventually won more. My decision to leave Real Madrid was not about money.” This free transfer Juventus saves them money to spend on finding a goalie for the future since Gianluigi Buffon will be turning 38 this upcoming season.

What He Brings to Juventus?

Khedira helps bolster an already defensive Juventus team. He can be inserted right into the starting XI due to Pirlo’s impending move away from Juventus. Although he may not be a building block for the future in Juventus, his presence will definitely keep Juventus on the top of Serie A. Don’t look for him to help their goal scoring prowess, but instead look for him to create more opportunities by facilitating out to on the wings. This move also brings another good player to the Juventus in case Paul Pogba does finally decide to leave in the upcoming transfer window.

What Are His Outlooks with Juventus?

The Good

Khedira strengthens an already great midfield for Juventus. With Pirlo citing that he wants a move away from Italy, this creates a place where Khedira can start right away. Khedira will receive plenty of playing time while also providing opportunities for Pogba to go one on one on the one of the outside wings against a defender due to Khedira’s passing. In addition to helping create opportunities, Khedira helps reduce the chances that the opposition will get, reducing the chances on a young keeper that Juventus could possibly get.  Khedira’s presence will solidify their position on top of Serie A and give them a great shot at another run in Champions League

The Bad

Juventus will still be one of the premier teams in the Italian league regardless of Khedira success or not. Khedira receives full playing time but his body is not up to it. Fans will probably have to wait for the entire season in order for Khedira to build his stamina. Khedira will tough out the season though, while still being a defensive stopper for Juventus. There is not much of a down side, unless the poor play leads to him being benched which then could cause issues.

By: Ryan Bode