The end of the European season has brought with it the usual spate of embryonic transfer rumours, so since there’s no Argentines Abroad this week, let’s take a (very) quick look at some of them to give you a bit of reading matter today, shall we? Boca Juniors have had a few offers for players, whilst elsewhere there are contract renewals in the offing.
Boca Juniors’ poor season hasn’t stopped a number of their players turning the heads of foreign clubs apparently. Deportivo de La Coruña are reported to have offered US$11 million for Rodrigo Palacio, but Boca have shot back, saying they want US$13 million. Their interest in upping the price is understandable: whatever the transfer fee, Banfield will take 17.5%, Palacio’s former club Huracán de Tres Arroyos 10%, and the player himself 15%. Good news is that Martín Palermo, in his never-ending quest to make sure he’s quite indisputably Boca’s all-time highest goalscorer, whenever you stop counting, by the time he retires, is set to sign a new contract.
There are also rumours of a move from Mexico to sign Paraguayan full back Claudio Morel Rodríguez, and Fabián Vargas has stirred interest from unnamed parties, whilst Lucas Viatri and Gabriel Paletta (formerly of Liverpool) are also expected to leave.
In Avellaneda, there’s similar joy as young starlet Franco Zuculini has announced he’ll stay with Racing for ‘at least one more year’ to aid his development and try and help the club who’ve brought him up out. Zuculini is being hunted by numerous European clubs including German mega-minnows Hoffenheim, who have reportedly made the first concrete offer for his services, but he insists he’s not interested just yet.
And finally, the Argentine manager (and ex-defender) Mauricio Pocchettino, has renewed his contract with Barcelona club Espanyol after leading them clear of relegation in the Spanish first division this season. His new contract runs for the next three seasons, and will start with Espanyol’s first season in their new stadium – they move out of the never-especially-popular Estadi Olimpic (photo here if you’d like to see it) this summer.
Hasta El Gol Siempre 
Fantastic news about Zuculini that’s made my day – looking at Seba’s figures, next season is going to be another tough struggles with relegation against Central and GELP (assuming they both survive), also Godoy Cruz, and we have to hope that the two promoted sides aren’t very good. From the brief looks at ‘B’ I’ve had this season, I’d say Atlético are better than Chaca, but Chaca might be more able to add seasoned Primera fighters, the Gaston Esmerado-type of player if you see what I mean.
What worries me anyway is that the fee that Hoffenhein (the potential buyer for Zuculini) is only at 5 million US Dollars.
That is simply unacceptable. Disgusting I’d say.
If he was playing for Boca or River, he wouldn’t leave for less than 15 or 20.
The potential this guy has and the ability he has shown to play in extremely difficult situations, is worth 10 million alone.
I’ll be fuming if he goes for anything less than 10 million.
$ 5 MILLION!! That’s, what, just over 4 million pounds sterling, suggesting that players such as Felipe Caicedo, Vedran Corluka and, wait for this JOEY BARTON are worth MORE THAN ZUCULINI!!!