Amidst all the money that’ll be flying around in the coming summer, there’ll be a handful of clubs who’ll depend on the powers of negotiation. Jean-Marc Bosman’s case more than 20 years ago allowed footballers to move for free and since then, we’ve seen quite a few surprising and shrewd free transfers in the transfer market.
Last summer saw quite a few prominent names like Mathieu Flamini, Alvaro Arbeloa and Zlatan Ibrahimovic moving on Bosman transfers and with further ado, here are five players who could come free in the upcoming transfer market
#1 Pepe
Real Madrid centre-back Pepe has had one hell of a career in the Spanish capital and it’d be a shame to see him retire elsewhere. Los Blancos’ President Florentino Perez is a keen admirer of the Portuguese international after everything he's achieved at the club but there’s no sign of a deal yet.
There’s also a growing feeling that Pepe’s presence has shackled some of the future talents in Nacho and Raphael Varane who haven’t been getting consistent game time. Pepe is 34 now, yet has shown no signs of slowing down. So much so, that there has been no shortage of transfer rumours linking him to various clubs around Europe and the Chinese Super League.
Pepe’s wages will be on the higher end, but he’s definitely someone who can offer a lot for at least another year or so.
#2 Fernando Torres
Atletico Madrid’s number nine might not have the same juice in those legs that enabled him to sprint like a gazelle and terrorise opposition defences, but he can still do a decent enough job up front.
Torres was considered by many as the best striker in world football once upon a time and ever since he left Liverpool, he experienced a downward spiral in form. Whether it was his physical peak coming to an end or just a really long patch of bad form, we’ll never know.
Having made a return to his boyhood club Atletico Madrid, Torres has had a relatively quiet spell when compared to the way he burst onto the scene with the blonde hair and mustered goal after another. His contract expires in the summer and even though Diego Simeone is happy with El Nino’s contributions, a contract is yet to be put on the table.
#3 Yaya Toure
The Manchester City midfielder might not be at is physical peak anymore but he still has his strengths and can be a force in the middle of the park if used in the right way. City boss Pep Guardiola has had his differences with Yaya and his agent, but they have moved on. The Ivorian has been a key figure in that midfield after the season-ending injury to Ilkay Gundogan.
Toure’s influence has subsided in the last year or so simply because of his age. At his prime, he was unstoppable while marauding forward. While he still does that every now and then, his game reading ability has improved. Naturally so, as he no longer has the same mobility to stop opposition attackers if found out of position.
It’s unlikely he’ll stay at Manchester City after being part of an era where they’ve evolved into a super-club. For a free transfer, he’d be a smashing addition to any team.
#4 Zlatan Ibrahimovic
What next for Zlatan? After proving his doubters wrong in the Premier League – ‘making them eat their b***s,’ to be precise – you wonder where the former Swedish international will move to. The MLS has been touted but do not be surprised if he continues in Europe.
Still a world class player, it almost seems Ibrahimovic is one someone who is immune to the performance dip brought about by ageing. His long strides showed he can match even the quickest of defenders and beat them for pace and his towering physique was just too much for most players to deal with.
Ibrahimovic shares a good rapport with Jose Mourinho but considering how bad their league form has been this season, you feel he’ll try his luck elsewhere. He might be a Bosman signing, but good luck to the club paying his massive weekly wages.
#5 Mario Balotelli
The enigma of Mario Balotelli continues to baffle the football fraternity. After what was a forgettable spell at Liverpool, he made a free transfer to Ligue 1 side Nice. Under a disciplinarian in Lucien Favre, Balotelli had no option but to keep his head down and get his career back on track. A move to the Ligue 1 after a failed spell with Liverpool and AC Milan wasn’t something to be proud of, though.
To his credit, the Italian has done reasonably well at Nice. Favre’s setup has allowed Balotelli to thrive and Nice only have themselves to blame for offering the mercurial striker just a one-year contract last summer.
Nice president Jean-Pierre Rivere has admitted that it’ll be tough convincing Balotelli to stay. He’ll move on a free transfer in the summer but considering his run-ins in the past, there won’t be many clubs who will want to take the gamble.
Nevertheless, Balotelli still has time on his side and if he can replicate his spell at Nice, he’ll be a shrewd addition for whoever eventually signs him.
