The transfers of Maxi Rodriguez from Atletico Madrid and Andrea Dossena on the way to AC Napoli seem to be on the home stretch, and may be completed as early as tomorrow.
The representatives of both players have said that negotiations are at an advanced stage and that in both cases the agents are looking to secure permanent moves for their clients.
Dossena never really broke through the first team and made only sporadic appearances. With Insua becoming first choice left back and Aurelio coming second in the pecking order, Dossena was also deployed on an attacking left position from time to time. A big thanks to the Italian who really did his best when called upon and even was known to put in extra training so fitness was never the real issue. We will all remember his fabulous goal in the 1-4 trashing of Man Utd last season in a day where the ‘Theatre of Dreams’ was turned into the ‘Theatre of Nightmares’. Grazie Andrea!
Maximiliano Ruben ‘Maxi’ Rodriguez should prove to be a very important signing for us Reds. The 28 year old winger (who has also played as an attacking midfielder) has undoubted playing ability and quality (he’s been in the Argentinean national squad sphere for many years now) and there is also the all important aspect that he is a very close and good friend of Xavier Mascherano, not to mention Fernando Torres. His arrival may somehow convince Mascherano to sign the contract extention (hopefully).
I feel that the Dossena/Rodriguez ‘swap’ is a quality leap for the Reds. Now let’s see who is coming to us in place of Voronin. After all, we are still needy of a striking thoroughbred to partner/fill in for El Nino.