| IN PLUS |  |
1. Diego (Brazil)
To: Werder Bremen (Germany)
From: Porto (Portugal)
Amount: 6.5 million euros
The young Brazilian managed to replace and outshine Joan Miku, who left the German club. Diego’s role in the game of “Bremen Town Musicians” is great: he scores, helps partners do it, ideally combines individual brilliance with the attractiveness of the team. In the leadership of the “Bremen” in the Bundesliga, Diego’s defining role. Not surprisingly, the midfielder was remembered in the Brazilian national team. If he continues in the same vein, his transfer value will far exceed the expenses of Bremen.
2. Adrian Mutu (Romania)
To: Fiorentina (Italy)
Location: Juventus (Italy)
Amount: 8 million euros
Everything is back to square one. So Mutu, once baptized by the Second Haji, reunited with Cesare Prandelli. After all, it was at him, in Parma, that Adrian truly revealed his talent to Europe. However, that magnificence was replaced by problems at Chelsea and Juventus, troubles in family life, and drugs. Now all this is behind us, and the striker resembles himself four years ago. Perhaps this is commensurate praise.
3. Dimitar Berbatov (Bulgaria)
To: Tottenham Hotspur (England)
Location: Bayer (Germany)
Amount: 16 million euros
The tall, powerful striker has already admitted that in English football he feels like a fish in water. The most expensive football player in Bulgaria, being a typical finalizer, does not shy away from rough work. True, while he is a little knocked out of the schedule for his intended result of 15-20 goals per season, he has already become one of the brightest stars of the White Hart Lane.
4. Amauri (Brazil)
To: Palermo (Italy)
Location: Chievo (Italy)
Amount: 10.5 million euros
The Italian Brazilian Amauri moved to "his" team. Immediately pouring into the team, he scored several important goals and entrenched at the base of the highly soaring club. The technical performer and leader of the Sicilian attacks in the future can try on the shirt of the Italian team.
5. Christian Poulsen (Denmark)
To: Seville (Spain)
Location: Schalke 04 (Germany)
Amount: free agent
The defensive midfielder went to the Sevillans for free, ousted Marescu from the base of the MVP of the UEFA Cup and significantly strengthened the defensive component of the team’s game. Reliable and confident game brought Christian the title of football player of the year in his homeland, in Denmark.
| IN MINUS |  |
1. Andrey Shevchenko (Ukraine)
Where: Chelsea (England)
Location: Milan (Italy)
Amount: 45 million euros
So much has been said and written about this transfer that people already far from football know: Sheva disappointed, did not show London and Roman Abramovich, and Jose Mourinho what was expected of him.
2. Ricardo Oliveira (Brazil)
To: Milan (Italy)
Location: Betis (Spain)
Amount: 15 million euros
“Milan”, having labeled sorting through Shevchenko’s replacement options, suddenly drew attention to the Brazilian. The once formidable striker was purchased in Spain at a fabulously high price for him. The transaction was carried out on the falling flag, when the hours remained before the transfer window closed. The start of Oliveira in Serie A was encouraging. Already in the first round he scored. But the next goal had to wait almost until Christmas.
3. Lilian Thuram (France)
To: Barcelona (Spain)
Location: Juventus (Italy)
Amount: 2 million euros
One of the pillars of the French defense and a collector of various titles rarely appears at the heart of the Catalans. And if the transfer amount allows you to keep it on the bench, then the star status and reputation come with frequent downtime contrary.
4-5. Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano (both ─ Argentina)
Where: West Ham (England)
Location: Corinthians (Brazil)
Amount: terms of the transaction were not disclosed
Almost all top clubs closely watched these players in the summer. However, a seductive couple surprisingly went to the modest "hammers". Mascherano firmly settled in their reserve, and Tevez, playing more often and brighter, still could not score the first goal in the Premier League. Among the explanations for such a failure, mystery and the closure of the transaction also appear. Many see in West Ham only a transit point at which the Argentines did not come in handy for either Alan Pardew or his namesake Kerbishli.
Stanislav POPOVICH