Wasted

Posted on Friday, 15 June 2007 by

Can this really be happening? Mauro Zárate was included, initially, in the starting lineup for Vélez’s side against River in the last round of the Clausura tonight. At the last minute, he was taken out of it, replaced by Darío Ocampo, and a somewhat unexpected story has followed. Zárate – at 19, one of the hottest attacking talents on Argentina’s conveyer belt at the moment – claims he’s on the verge of signing a contract with a foreign club. Nothing odd there, you may be thinking. Let me finish: A club in Qatar. Al Sadd, Qatari champions in three of the last four years, seem set to sign Zárate, after which he seriously expects Europe’s big clubs to still be interested. His brother will be playing with a different team in the same city. Madness? Indicative of a change in Qatari transfer policy (which has previously seen only outgoing ageing stars joining their clubs)? Career suicide? We shall see…

About hastaelgolsiempre

Sam Kelly is an English football writer based in Buenos Aires, specialising in all things Argentina - the national team and the domestic league - as well as across South America for When Saturday Comes, ESPN Soccernet, the Hong Kong Jockey Club and In Bed With Maradona among others.
This entry was posted in Argentine football, Argentine league, Argentines abroad, Domestic, Football, Football clubs, Players, Transfers, Vélez Sarsfield. Bookmark the permalink.

3 Responses to Wasted

  1. Mark says:
    Saturday, 16 June 2007 at 3:12 am

    For Al-Sak read Al-Sadd, not quite Qatari Champions last four years.

  2. hastaelgolsiempre says:
    Saturday, 16 June 2007 at 1:15 pm

    Thanks Mark, I shall blame Olé for the error… and am correcting the story.

  3. Adam Drury (Druryfire says:
    Saturday, 16 June 2007 at 7:28 pm

    I think Mpenza of Man City played out there, so maybe its not all that bad.

    But it does seem a long way round going to Europe

Comments are closed.