ENGLAND
1. ASHLEY YOUNG (England)
From Watford to Aston Villa, 13.5 million euros.
Forward with a speaking surname the first half of the season worked as the main star of the humble Watford. In winter, the 21-year-old player of the England youth team became the target of seven Premier League clubs at once, among which were Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham. The most persistent was Aston Villa, and the trophy went to her for 4.5 years. Young is technical, has a high speed, with the same success can play both a winger and a drawn forward. Despite skepticism about the overpriced transfer, Ashley managed to score in the very first match for Villa. In England, there is no doubt that, under the supervision of Martin O'Neill, Young will soon grow to the first team.
2. HENRIK LARSSON (Sweden)
From Helsingborg to Manchester United, rental.
The leader of the English championship failed the most unusual deal this winter. Leaving until the best of times the quiet joys of the Swedish retirement life, the 35-year-old Henrik Larsson has returned to elite European football. The agreement with Manchester United is designed for only three months, and there is no doubt that the forward will hold them at the highest level. It took Larsson less than an hour to open an account for goals for the new club. If the Swede will continue to regularly demonstrate timeless talents, timeless stay at Old Trafford threatens to drag out.
3. ALEXEY SMERTIN (Russia)
From Dynamo to Fulham, the amount was not disclosed.
The ex-captain of the Russian team after a year break returns to the English Premier League. Interrupting a failed affair with Dynamo Moscow, Smertin signed a 2.5-year contract with London Fulham, the proposal of which was the most substantive (West Ham and Wigan also claimed for Alexey). The 31-year-old midfielder is called to solve the problems of the new club in the center of midfield, a bloodless succession of personnel losses. Chris Coleman is sure that the experience and universalism of Smertin’s team will be very useful.
4. JOHN CAREW (Norway)
From Lyon to Aston Villa, exchange.
Having developed the expected transfer activity, Aston Villa has acquired one of the most restless forwards in Europe. Career career impresses with a wide outlook: in addition to the native championship, the striker had a chance to perform in Spain, Italy, Turkey and France. Now a black Viking has reached England. The 27-year-old Norwegian in the Birmingham club replaced the obstinate Milan Baroche, who set off across the English Channel in the opposite direction. In the Premier League, Carew will surely find a worthy application for an unusual combination of power, assertiveness and plasticity. And, perhaps, it will finally find inner peace.
5. LUCAS NILL (Australia)
From Blackburn to West Ham, 2 million euros.
Few doubted that with the advent of the new year, the Australian defender will be in Liverpool. However, at the last moment, Nill decided to pursue a career in West Ham, preferring the harsh outsider battle to the Champions League. It’s easy to find an explanation for the paradox - twice as much salary and the ability to regularly leave in the main team. The 28-year-old universal defender can play both in the center and on the flank. Against the backdrop of Blackburn's defensive defense, Nill looked very reliable, but at the same time he was the leader in the number of yellow cards in the current season.
SPAIN
1. FERNANDO GAGO (Argentina)
From Boca Juniors to Real, EUR 20.4 million.
Real Madrid has long dreamed of a defensive midfielder with the makings of a playmaker. And he could not miss the chance to buy the 20-year-old Fernando Gago, nicknamed “the new Redondo” in his homeland, especially since the nostalgia for Redondo himself still lives in Madrid. Gago surprisingly quickly ousted Capello from Emerson’s notebook, and composed a compelling duet with Mamadou Diarra in midfield. It is already obvious that Capello is going to build a new “Real” with the help of young people, and if Gago plays well, he can not be afraid of competition from the eminent “galactos”.
2. GONSALO IGUAIN (Argentina)
From River Plate to Real, 13 million euros.
In just a month, Gonzalo Higuain entrenched in the main “cream” line-up even more reliably than Gago, having missed only one match of Real Madrid during his stay in Spain. Giving a kick to Ronaldo and Cassano, Fabio Capello left himself not too rich a choice in the line of attack - this is partly why Higuain is increasingly stepping up with Van Nistelrooy. And while Gonzalo’s achievements are limited to one goal assist, he excels in diligence, it seems, both veteran Raul and young Robinho and Reyes.
3. ALEXANDER KERZHAKOV (Russia)
From Zenit to Seville, 5 million euros.
Alexander Kerzhakov, not waiting for the transformation of “Zenith” into a “club of European level”, was in the team, which this expression characterizes much better. Despite the fact that the appearance of the newly made Andalusian “nine” coincided with the unsuccessful playing segment of the club, Alexander himself went right about almost immediately. In four matches, he scored two goals (one did not count) and gave an assist. “Sevilla” started up, again began to win and awarded Kerzh the nickname Pescaya (white fish hake). Parting with “Zenith” has benefited already two Petersburg favorites - Bystrov and Kerzhakov. The next is Arshavin?
ITALY
1. RONALDO (Brazil)
From Real Madrid to Milan, 7.5 million euros.
After 4.5 years, the Brazilian will again play for the team representing the northern capital of Italy - not just for Inter, but for Milan. Thus, the "red-black" will try to solve the problems associated with the effectiveness of the attack. After all, Ronaldo, in spite of the critical arrows often shot into him, has traditionally scored a lot. At the club level, in the framework of various national championships, he played 291 matches, in which he scored 219 times, and over the past five seasons he has won 130 matches and 89 goals. Only the first half of the current season is knocked out of the general series (7 games, only 3 of which are “basic”, and 1 goal), but this is primarily a result of disagreements with Real Madrid coach Fabio Capello.
2. MASSIMO ODDO (Italy)
From Lazio to Milan, 7.8 million euros.
The World Champion has long expressed a desire to return to Milan, where in the early 90s he played for youth and youth teams. Long and uncompromising negotiations lasted about a year. The Lazio management did not want to let the captain go, but in the end a solution was found - almost 8 million euros of compensation plus a midfielder Pasquale Foggia. In the person of Oddo, “Milan” acquired not only a strong destroyer, but also a skilled creator. In the past championship Massimo recorded 7 goals and 14 assists, and in the current championship these figures are 5 and 3, respectively.
3. CHRISTIAN WILHELMSON (Sweden)
From Nantes to Roma, rental.
A quick and nimble midfielder should have Roma in the yard. In terms of gaming characteristics, it fully fits into the concept of Luciano Spalletti, who relies on a mobile and entrepreneurial middle line. Wilhelmsson has already managed to prove himself: his assist in Totti contributed to the away world with Livorno. I think that Wilhelmsson will succeed in Italy. At least history testifies in his favor - after all, almost each of his compatriots predecessors made a successful career on the Apennines.
GERMANY
1. MARCUS ROSENBERG (Sweden)
From Ajax to Werder Breaker, 4.5 million euros.
In Ajax, the Swedish striker was not able to justify the advances received at the time. He was once compared with Ibrahimovic, but it turned out that Zlatan Marcus was united only by citizenship and individual career milestones. This season, the 24-year-old Rosenberg rarely appeared at the base of the Dutch club, but managed to attract the attention of Werder Bremen. The Bremen attack in the Bundesliga is unrivaled, but in an inter-circle pause, it needed a personnel update. After all, Ivan Klasnich underwent a kidney transplant operation, and Mohamed Zidane moved to Mainz-05.
2. IVICA OLIC (Croatia)
From CSKA to Hamburg, 2 million euros.
With the Moscow CSKA Moscow Croat won three championships and two Cups of Russia, and in 2005 became the owner of the UEFA Cup. But recently, it has become increasingly difficult for him to compete with Jo and Wagner Love, and six months before the end of the contract, the army leadership decided to sell the 27-year-old striker to Hamburg. Olic's current task is to help his new club avoid the first-ever departure from the Bundesliga. By the way, Ivica already has experience performing in Germany: in 1999, he briefly defended the colors of Hertha.
3. MARCELINO (Brazil)
From Trabzonspor to Wolfsburg, EUR 2.7 million.
The extravagant Brazilian returns to the Bundesliga, where he shone in 2001-06. For the attacking midfielder, who scored 55 goals in five seasons in Hertha, the Turkish coast was not nice - he survived in Trabzonspor for only six months. From now on, the 31-year-old Marcelinho will delight with the skill of the fans who agreed to fork out Wolfsburg. The Dortmund Borussia was also actively interested in the South American, however, the football player liked the conditions proposed by the “wolves” more.
FRANCE
1. MILAN BAROSH (Czech Republic)
From Aston Villa to Lyon, exchange
The initiator of the invitation of the 25-year-old Czech to “Lyon” was the mentor of the “Lions” Gerard Houlier, well acquainted with the possibilities of a football player. It was he who in 2002 invited Baros to Liverpool, but in England the striker never revealed his rich potential. Having headed Lyon a year and a half ago, Houlier already wanted to entice Milan into the team, but he chose to move to Aston Villa. Today, the five-time French champions managed to exchange Baros for the Norwegian John Carew, who went to Birmingham.
2. FERNANDO CAVENAGI (Argentina)
From Spartak to Bordeaux, 6 million euros.
For two and a half years in Moscow “Spartak” once one of the most promising players in Argentina never found himself, only occasionally giving out an enchanting game. The South American striker was not able to get used to either Moscow life or Russian football, and recently did not hide his desire to try his hand at another championship. Rumors about his transfer have been around for a long time, and in January Cavenagi officially became a Bordeaux footballer. Maybe in France, a 23-year-old football player will finally appear as the “spear point”.
3. MARCELO GALLIARDO (Argentina)
From River Plate to PSG, a free agent.
Few expected the 31-year-old Argentinean to return to European football. In 1999-2003, a miniature attacking midfielder successfully played for Monaco, but after a conflict with Didier Deschamps was forced to leave. For the last three years he wore a captain's armband in his native River Plate, but on the slope of his football years he ventured a second attempt to conquer France. With his experience and skill, he must help the new steering PSG Paul Le Guin save the sinking Parisian ship.
ADDITIONAL TOP 5 TRANSFERS
The most glamorous
David Beckham moved to Los Angeles Galaxy, where he will receive $ 250 million over 5 years and will play alongside his American counterpart, Landon Donovan.
Most nostalgic
Edgar Davids, a pit bull with glasses who had not played for Tottenham for a long time, went to educate the youth in his native Ajax, from which he left 10 years ago.
Most effective
Vincenzo Montella, written off on board the accelerated Roma for rent to Fulham, scored four goals in six games, mainly coming on as a substitute.
Most predictable
Few doubted that the Liverpool coach Rafael Benitez would lead another Spaniard to the team in the winter. Merseyside defender Deportivo Alvaro Arbeloa became.
Most coveted but failed
For the 17-year-old left-back of Southampton Welshman Gareth Bale, Manchester United offered 8 million pounds, and Tottenham - 10. In the summer they will give even more.