Saturday has brought news that's been expected for some time in Argentine football; Juan Román Riquelme, who announced he wouldn't be playing for Boca Juniors again in the wake of their defeat in last year's Copa Libertadores final, has agreed terms with his local club Tigre (of whom he's a lifelong fan), defeated finalists in... Continue Reading →
Vélez Sarsfield transfer coup as Fernando Gago joins, & Riquelme talks to Tigre
The Argentine transfer window hasn't closed yet, but on the last day of registration for European clubs, one big name did arrive in the Primera, and it's a good 'un; current Argentina international Fernando Gago wanted a move home because his wife, the former tennis player Gisela Dulko, is due to give birth later this... Continue Reading →
Some summer transfer tales
January has been dominated, in Argentina, by two things, as usual; the utterly meaningless and deeply tedious 'Summer Tournaments' organised by sponsors to sell tickets to friendly matches (often involving one or more of the Big Five) to locals and holiday-going porteños in other parts of Argentina, and summer transfer rumours. Two of the most visible... Continue Reading →
HEGS exclusive: England’s Arsenal want Racing’s Yacob at season’s end
Now that the January transfer window has closed in England, I've been given the go-ahead to report, exclusive to HEGS, that a few days ago a representative of Arsenal's scouting team in London enquired about offering a contract to Claudio Yacob of Racing Club here in Buenos Aires. Yacob's contract with Racing expires in June,... Continue Reading →
Copa Libertadores 2012: Argentina’s challengers
Tuesday night sees Arsenal de Sarandí get the ball rolling in the first match of the 2012 Copa Libertadores, which is being played as this post goes online because I hadn't realised it kicked off so early in the evening. I'm still in summer holiday mode, you know. Aside from Arsenal in the qualifiers, Argentina... Continue Reading →
River Plate: the rebuilding begins, and next season’s new horizons
The morning after the night before, River Plate are being forced to adjust to life as a Nacional B institution. J.J. López is gone as manager, and might leave the club altogether. Ramón Díaz, who watched the game on television in Miami, has offered to take charge in the second division. Juan Pablo Carrizo returns... Continue Reading →
On Monday, Diario Libre reported, in their first ever edition, that River Plate playmaker Erik Lamela had been bought by a management group, and is to be sold on to a European club at the end of the season (possibly Juventus). I've written a profile of Lamela, and a bit on why River haven't had much... Continue Reading →
It's transfer deadline day in England, and with numerous things still up in the air it remains to be seen whether Blackburn Rovers really are going to secure the signature of Newell's Old Boys' playmaker Mauro Formica - whose move to Monaco collapsed on Friday - for a fee of €4.2 million. Any Blackburn fans... Continue Reading →
Chávez replaces Pérez in Argentina squad; Erviti to Boca; Camoranesi to River?
Since Sergio Batista's Argentina squad list was made official on Monday, it's been strongly hinted that one particular change would be made, and so it has come to pass. In a move that frankly makes one wonder why the Estudiantes midfielder was named in the first place, Enzo Pérez has been replaced in the squad... Continue Reading →
A youngster leaves Argentina, and a legend returns
It's been a week of big name moves in Argentina's footballing landscape, with three of the deals in particular standing out. On Friday it was confirmed that Diego Buonanotte will move from River Plate to Málaga of the Spanish First Division at the end of the season (he'll remain at the Núñez club for the... Continue Reading →
Hasta El Gol Siempre 