Why Javier Pastore is Worth £45m

Javier Pastore is 22 years-old, has played 103 competitive football games, scored 25 goals, assisted 14, and cost his current club Palermo only £5 million when he joined them from the Argentinian side Club Atlético Huracán just two years ago. Now, in 2011, the Argentine attacking midfielder is being offered to clubs for over £40 million. How on earth has that happened, and why do so many believe that Pastore is worth that obscene amount?

Many of you may have looked at Pastore on YouTube when you heard clubs like Manchester United, Manchester City, Real Madrid and Chelsea were interested in signing him. You may have seen his silky skills and elegant passing, his attacking style and eye for goal. Of course, that's great to see, and possibly a joy to behold, but do you really believe that he is worth the same as Zinedine Zidane was back in 2001? Is he really someone who you would risk splashing a staggering amount on in the hope that he could change the fortunes of your club?

In truth, I don't believe anyone is worth that amount, but then you have to look at the situation from a footballing point of view - football is in a whole world of it's own when it comes to money, and it's a world we can't even begin to comprehend. So I suppose in footballing terms, yes, Javier Pastore looks an impressive and very promising talent, with huge potential to grow into a world beater. But still - £45 million? It seems too much.

Hang on. Who's "interested" in the player again? Manchester United, Manchester City, Real Madrid, Chelsea and AC Milan. Ah. It makes sense now. Of course Pastore isn't really worth the £45 million that we have been quoted. No, but Pastore's club know, that they have a young player capable of special things in their midst, and clubs with a seemingly limitless bank balance are interested - namely, Manchester City, Real Madrid and Chelsea.

This is something that many clubs with talented young players can now do; raise the price of their player when big clubs circle, quote them the sum expected, watch as they ponder thoughtfully while checking their wallets carefully, and sell the player for a massive profit. It's brilliant, and many clubs set out now, looking for young, promising, rough diamonds, with a profit in mind. Udinese are a perfect example.

Alexis Sanchez, the talented South American, who has been the subject of big bids from Manchester United, City and Barcelona this summer was part of Udinese's project of signing up loads of young, cheap South American and African footballers in the hope that one or two will turn out like Sanchez has so that the club can sell them on for a huge profit. Udinese were lucky that both sides of Manchester - the red and he blue registered interest in Sanchez, as it only increased his valuation - a valuation Barcelona are struggling to meet.

The Palermo chief has recently spoken about Javier Pastore's future, stating that it is very likely that his young star will be leaving this summer:

"There's a 90 per cent chance that he'll go away, because it is the desire of the player. That is normal when you know that certain clubs want you."

"Pastore will go to England or Spain. The favourites are Real Madrid and Malaga. Manchester City are also interested in him, as well as Manchester United and Chelsea."

So the truth is, Pastore isn't really worth £45 million, but Palermo know that clubs will be willing to pay that amount for him - and they will of course be willing to accept the money. Pastore may be very talented; his skills, his passing, his vision, his creativity, his flare, his talent for impersonations, but in my opinion, he isn't worth £45 million.

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Daniele De Rossi Transfer News

The past few days have seen Daniele De Rossi's name mentioned quite a few times in the transfer gossip columns in stories linking the Italian midfielder to Manchester United. This happened only a couple of weeks ago with Javier Pastore, the Argentinian attacking midfielder who was supposedly close to a Manchester United move. I haven't heard much since. 
So this is all about the De Rossi Move:

The 27 year-old is apparently prepared to leave Roma, the club he has played for over a decade. De Rossi has suffered a turbulent time in recent years, including the shooting of his father-in-law in a gang attack and the separation from his wife. The player recently told of his recent struggle with the club he began his career with, and explained that he feels that things are changing for the worse. He said after elbowing the opposition and getting sent off in Roma's recent Champions League clash with Shackhtar Donetsk:

"They used to treat me as one of their own, they would tell me to throw in another elbow, but now the wind has changed. Something here at Roma is changing. For a year and a half, the things I've heard that have given me the most pride have come from outside Rome. I have had moments at a low ebb, in which I wasn't at my best. Do I feel wounded?

"Yes, but I don't want to play the victim, I don't want people to come and tell me how great I am. The wound will heal itself. Then, everyone makes his own assessments."

His father, Alberto, admits that the player “would never want to face a future away from Roma” but acknowledges that “if he expressed himself [in that way], then there is a cause behind it.”

His contract at Roma expires in June 2012 and his current wages reach £60,000 a week. That is well within United's budget, and with Sir Alex reportedly being given £100 million to spend, the £20 million fee supposedly being asked for the defensive midfielder would not be a problem. However, 27 is not the ideal age for Sir Alex who has been and will be looking more to youth to replace the older generation of Giggs, Scholes and van der sar.

The former Roma striker Ruggiero Rizzitelli does not believe that De Rossi will leave Italy:

"The truth is De Rossi won't leave Roma. He is their Bandieraplayer, the future captain. He is already named as the new captain after Francesco Totti."

"De Rossi has already rejected Real Madrid in the past. Two years ago the club had asked for him, but he and [former Roma owners] the Sensi family said no because he is a Roman, a Romanista and he wants to end his career at Roma like Totti.

"His dream is to remain at Roma with the backing of the new owners and the promise of a strong team to challenge."

The 2006 World Cup winners' future is looking uncertain, that is for sure. Whether it simply be transfer speculation or actual truth lies at the bottom of this story is yet to be discovered, but he would be a fantastic addition to the Manchester United side, as a perfect replacement for Owen Hargreaves.

Javier Pastore Transfer News

Javier Pastore is close to agreeing a move to Manchester United. That is what the world of football transfer rumours tells us, as Sir Alex Ferguson, apparently a known admirer of the Argentinian 21 year-old sees the attacking midfielder as the perfect replacement for Paul Scholes.

Here is what has been said:

• Pastore's current side Palermo are said to be sticking to an asking price of 40 million euros which is £34.4 million.
• That means Sir Alex Ferguson would be willing to break the clubs transfer record set by the signing of Dimitar Berbatov for just over £30 million.
• The controversial and very much disliked Manchester United owners have promised Ferguson substantial transfer funds to compete for the best players in the summer - including Pastore.
• The promise of increased funds comes from the Wayne Rooney transfer saga, when the England striker questioned United's ambition. The injection of funds is apparently a show of ambition to persuade United's top players to stay.
• United will look to sell some of their current players to help in the funding of Pastore. Players such as Owen Hargreaves, Michael Owen, Johnny Evans, Bebe, Gabriel Obertan and Darron Gibson are all said to have an uncertain future at United.
• The player’s agent Marcelo Simonen is supposedly almost finalizing a deal with the head chiefs of ‘The Red Devils’.
• A number of top clubs have already been linked with Pastore, including Real Madrid and Barcelona. Manchester City have also expressed an interest.
• Barcelona travelled to Italy to discuss a verbal agreement with Palermo to unite Pastore with fellow countryman Lionel Messi. No agreement was reached which left United open to discussion.

Pastore joined Palermo in 2009 and his performances were rewarded with a place in the Argentina squad in the 2010 World Cup. He was also awarded with the 2010 Serie A Young Player of the Year - the first Argentinian ever to win it and an honour previously won by another United target, Marek Hamsik, as well as Alexandre Pato of AC Milan.

All of these rumours are somewhat destroyed by what the player said little over a month ago:

"It's not yet time to talk about my transfer. We will see later. Now I'm happy to stay in Palermo," the 21-year-old told Corriere dello Sport.

"This is the ideal place to complete my growth. One day I'll be ready for the biggest clubs, but now I'm happy where I am.

"I have a contract with Palermo until 2015. If an important offer does arrive and president (Maurizio) Zamparini decides to talk about it with me, the situation could change, but now I think I still have a few years in Palermo.

"When I leave, I will go to a team where I can play. Going now to Barcelona or Real Madrid would mean to stay on the bench if not in the stands.

"I can do a transfer like that when I'm 28, when I'll be ready."

Below you can watch videos of the player and what has so many clubs interested.