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Transfer windows can be as exciting as they can be frustrating. We've gotten used to seeing transfer records being broken every summer. This summer transfer was earmarked as a vital one for several European clubs.
In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, clubs have been forced to be cautious with their spending. The shortage in matchday revenue has hit clubs severely but quite a few of Europe's top clubs have navigated the crisis well.
There are also clubs that have crumbled. Of course, it's not just the pandemic that has affected them. Years of thoughtless spending and mismanagement have led them to a place with unprecedented financial challenges.
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As a result, we have seen quite a few utterly surprising developments this summer transfer window. Without further ado, let's take a look at five of the most surprising events of this transfer window.
#5 Romelu Lukaku trying to force Chelsea return
We are yet to find out if Romelu Lukaku's efforts will come to fruition. But for now, he is trying to engineer a way back to his former club Chelsea. SkySports reported earlier this week that Lukaku has asked Inter Milan to accept an offer from Chelsea.
The Nerazzurri are in a difficult situation financially. Antonio Conte surprisingly left his job as Inter Milan manager earlier this summer after a triumphant Serie A season. He did so after Inter informed him that they'd need to let go of some of their biggest players this summer.
As per the latest reports, Inter Milan are holding out for a deal worth €120 million for Lukaku. Both clubs are determined to find a way and the Belgian's return to Stamford Bridge will be quite an occasion to behold.
He has unfinished business in the Premier League and at Chelsea. It's interesting to note that Chelsea were in the race to sign him before Manchester United secured his services in the summer of 2017.
#4 Hakan Calhanoglu leaving AC Milan and joining Inter Milan
Hakan Calhanoglu has played a crucial role in AC Milan's recent upturn in form. The midfielder scored nine goals and provided 12 assists in 43 matches across all competitions in the 2020-21 season.
The Turkish international has played a total of 172 matches for the Rossoneri. He was also a beloved figure among the fanbase. However, the 27-year-old believes he is worth way more than what AC Milan have been paying him. He was also aware that they wouldn't be able to match his wage demands.
But Inter Milan could. So Calhanoglu ran down his contract at AC Milan and joined Inter Milan as a free-agent. It is a great piece of business for the Nerazzurri. Calhanoglu will better Inter Milan's attack and is likely to have hurt quite a lot of the Rossoneri faithful with his decision to join the arch-rivals.
#3 Jack Grealish signing for Manchester City for £100 million
Jack Grealish is one of the best creative midfielders in the Premier League. Manchester United have been heavily linked with him in the past but a deal never happened. Manchester United are also Grealish's favourite club as is clear from his tweets from his younger days.
Pep Guardiola's Manchester City squad is filled to the brim with stars. They have incredible depth in every position and they never shy away from reinforcing their side. Grealish's addition will make the Premier League champions even stronger.
But it's not exactly a move that everyone saw coming. Gundogan had a great season in 2020-21. But the fact of the matter is that both he and De Bruyne are 30-years-old and it was about time City found someone who can carry the torch.
Aston Villa have made some great signings already and the £100 million boost will definitely render them more ambitious.
#2 Sergio Ramos leaving Real Madrid
For young football fans, Sergio Ramos is a name that's synonymous with Real Madrid. After joining the club in 2005, Ramos went from strength to strength and established himself as one of the best defenders in the world.
His contract was up for renewal this summer. However, due to Real Madrid's financial woes, they were simply not in a position to offer him the two-year deal he wanted or perhaps deserved. Paris Saint-Germain swooped right in for the 35-year-old centre-back.
Even though he is on the wrong side of 30, Ramos is still a world-class defender. Ramos would have been happy to stay on at the Bernabeu. He would have kicked on in the Spanish capital had he not held out for a fresh proposal from Real Madrid and accepted the 1-year deal that was on the table.
But Real Madrid's loss is PSG's gain. He will improve their defence and give them time to assess their long-term options and invest wisely in a couple of years.
#1 Lionel Messi leaving Barcelona
After months of incertitude over the situation, Barcelona have finally announced that Lionel Messi is all set to leave the club. The club released an official statement confirming the same on Thursday.
Barcelona and Messi had agreed terms earlier but the club won't be able to comply with La Liga's salary cap if the deal goes through.
"Despite FC Barcelona and Lionel Messi having reached an agreement and the clear intention of both parties to sign a new contract today, this cannot happen because of Spanish LaLiga regulations on player registration.
"As a result of this situation, Messi shall not be staying on at FC Barcelona. Both parties deeply regret that the wishes of the player and the club will ultimately not be fulfilled."
There are suggestions that this is Barcelona's bluff and that they are trying to strong-arm La Liga into submission by threatening them with a potential Messi departure. The Argentine leaving Barcelona will be hugely detrimental to La Liga who have already taken a hit following Cristiano Ronaldo's exit in 2018.
But the sad reality, as things stand, is that Messi looks set to leave the only club he has ever played for. Barcelona, without Messi, will never be the same.
