5 most baffling moves in the 2014 summer transfer window

Danny Welbeck leaving Manchester United to join EPL rivals Arsenal on transfer deadline day was a move nobody saw comingThe 2014 summer transfer window has come and gone, and clubs have lost the chance to increase squad strength for another four months. As the years go by, more and more money is being thrown about during the hasty summer and winter transfer windows. It is probable that confining the transfer period to a few months in the calendar has only increased the transfer expenditure of clubs; it has definitely increased the pandemonium surrounding transfers.In the madness that was the last two months, some deals have been struck between clubs that defy logic, moves that are likely to be of no advantage to either club or player. We have seen badly thought out transactions returning to haunt clubs and players in the past, and there are several candidates for that possibility from among those who have changed strips this summer. Bojan Krkic’s move from Barcelona to Stoke City has befuddled many, but the much-vaunted 24 year old has just not been able to replicate his La Masia form at the senior level, and this might be a chance for a new start for the young man. Danny Welbeck’s relatively short journey from Manchester to London has raised many eyebrows as well, but it needs to be considered that Arsenal were forced to bring a striker in the eleventh hour and were pushed into a decision they did not much want to take. Pepe Reina’s transfer to the Bayern bench does not make any apparent sense either, but he is past his best days and justifiably prioritizes winners medals over playing minutes.These three are those who almost made this list, the following transfer deals are the ones that made even less sense to me.

#5 Xabi Alonso to Bayern Munich

Alonso has fitted into the German way of life well, one hopes he always finds someone to have a beer with.

The 32-year-old Spaniard has left Real Madrid after his starting line-up spot came under threat with the dual arrivals of James Rodriguez and Toni Kroos, but many are considering that Real have committed a cardinal mistake by letting him go.

Alonso was slated to play at the Spanish capital till 2016, and would possibly have hung up his boots as a Los Blancos player had the contract been respected. Alonso’s intelligence and responsible style of play as a central midfielder has been instrumental to Real Madrid’s recent successes, and they have slumped to a 4-2 defeat to Real Sociedad in their first league match after Alonso’s departure.

The player has claimed that he still feels a ‘hunger’ and that the time is ripe for a new challenge. He has fitted in marvelously at his new role, it would appear – he made his Bundesliga debut against Schalke the day after he arrived, and he has also been seen in a beer advertisement made shortly after his arrival at the Allianz Arena. However, it will be interesting to see if Alonso can find a place in the starting 11 once midfielders Bastian Schweinsteiger, Thiago Alcantara and Javi Martinez recover from injury.

Real Madrid have made a bit of a blunder if first signs are anything to go by; Alonso is enjoying his time in Germany now, but is likely to have to sit out when the whole squad is available at Bayern’s disposal; Bayern Munich seem to be the only sure winner from this transaction.

Likely to be laughing to the bank: Pep Guardiola, Bayern Munich

Likely to have regrets: Xabi Alonso, Real Madrid

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#4 Javier Hernandez to Real Madrid

Has Chicharito been lured by the glitz of the Real trophy room?

The ‘Little Pea’ from Mexico is currently not going through the best of form, such that he has been sidelined from Louis van Gaal’s plans at Old Trafford and his 2014 World Cup role was confined to coming on in the second halves of matches.

The 26-year-old’s departure from United was thought sure to happen this summer, but the conditions of the deal have surprised many. Personally for Hernandez, the move translates to moving from being a United reserve to being a Real Madrid reserve. And to change one’s country of residence just to sit on a different bench is a little like using a sledgehammer to break a peanut.

The more logical move for him would have been to a club with lesser ambitions which would have allowed him to get more first-team action. Also, he has been brought to Madrid on loan – a permanent move to the hypothetical smaller club would have made a lot more sense.

There is a lot of potential left in the diminutive Mexican’s career yet, and this appears a slightly suicidal career choice. Real will most probably use Chicharito like they used Michael Owen some years earlier, as an impact striker in the second half. Owen’s best playing days got over while being deployed in this sort of a role, and one hopes Hernandez does not go the same way.

Likely to be laughing to the bank: Real Madrid

Likely to have regrets: Javier Hernandez

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#3 Radamel Falcao to Manchester United

Ryan Giggs presents Falcao with the United jersey, a jersey they might not have to print next year.

There were a lot of sunny smiles at Old Trafford following this midnight deal struck in the last hour of the summer transfer window. Radamel Falcao is the second superstar to have arrived at United after Angel Di Maria for the upcoming season, and therefore fans are hoping their team have turned a very dark corner.

However, the move defies all kinds of rationales. For the player, it makes no sense because he will have to sacrifice Champions League football, and will have to make peace with the temporary nature of his tenure at the club. As for AS Monaco, they will be playing to win the Ligue 1 title after a second-place finish last season, apart from having Champions League duties.

Already having let one talisman in James Rodriguez go, one would have thought Falcao would be harder to prise away from them. Monaco fans are reportedly asking for refunds on season tickets after this shocker of a move.

Finally, for Manchester United, the striker’s position was possibly the one where they least needed a quality player. Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie could have managed fine (Welbeck’s departure did mean that a cover was required, but hardly a high-profile cover such as Falcao) in the forward line, and Ed Woodward and company would have done better to have brought more substance to their defensive half of the lineup.

Likely to be laughing to the bank: Falcao’s agent Jorge Mendes

Likely to have regrets: Radamel Falcao, AS Monaco, Manchester United

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#2 Jeremy Mathieu to Barcelona

Mathieu will be pleased to have so much sudden attention

With a €20 million transfer fee, Jeremy Mathieu has become the most expensive defender of all time above the age of 30. The French national team discard who has had to play second fiddle to Patrice Evra for the longest time, has now made a sensational move to one of the biggest clubs in the world, while Evra has been bought by Juventus for less than €2 million.

Barcelona have been in need of a solid defender for some time now, but this looks like a strange sort of move for two main reasons. First, Mathieu is primarily a left back, the position which young Jordi Alba has been consolidating for the last few seasons. Second, 30 just seems to be the wrong age for a defender to be shelling out so much money for.

Barcelona should have been looking to replace Puyol with young legs, and would surely have managed to land a more accomplished lad for the same amount of money. Mats Hummels, for example, has been linked with a move to Catalonia for some time now, and considering that he is currently going through the best form of his life, would have surely been a more sensible investment.

Likely to be laughing to the bank: Jeremy Mathieu

Likely to have regrets: Barcelona, Valencia

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#1 Cesc Fabregas to Chelsea

Fabregas and Lampard in the thick of things – Chelsea vs Arsenal, 2007

This move has already proved to be hugely beneficial for both club and player – only three games into life back in London, the Spaniard has four assists to his name and has dictated the direction of play for almost all the minutes he has been on for Chelsea.

However, two reasons make this transfer deal quite a stunning bit of business. Firstly, the ageing of the Xavi-Iniesta duo would have meant that Fabregas would have had a much larger role to play in the Barcelona setup this season – in the centre of midfield where he is most comfortable. And there were two very promising years remaining in his Barcelona contract.

Secondly, it was thought that Fabregas’s emotional attachment to Arsenal, the club of which he was a captain, would not allow him to return to London to play for a rival club. In 2011, he was quoted to have said,”If some day I leave Arsenal it will never be to sign for another English team. I'm very sure.”

That is not all, Fabregas has also had frequent and violent clashes with Chelsea during his time with Arsenal. He had an open dislike for Blues legend Frank Lampard when the two teams faced each other, and earned Chelsea ire by complaining about a celery thrown by the club’s supporters during the 2007 League Cup final. He made slighting remarks about Jose Mourinho’s “tall words” after Mourinho had suggested earlier this year that the Barcelona team from last season was the weakest in a long time.

Likely to be laughing to the bank: Jose Mourinho, Chelsea

Likely to have regrets: Barcelona, Arsenal