A signing!!! Yes, a signing!!!

By: David | July 19th, 2008

Only problem is, I know pretty much nothing about him.

And unless you’re a South American reader (or world football anorack), you probably don’t either.

However, what I do know has excited me somewhat. His name is Carlos Villanueva (no, not the Brewers pitcher…), a 22 year old Chilean, and he has come from Audax Italiano of the Chilean league for about £4million (though some sources say it is a season loan). He was due to join ambitious Spaniard’s Real Sociedad in May, but the deal fell through. Perhaps what is more exciting is that Real Madrid were interested in January.

He is an attacking midfielder (exactly what we need) and has scored 50 goals in 125 games for his club (which is quite fantastic). According to skysports.com Ince had approached his agent with a view to signing Mauro Zarate, but Zarate has since joined Lazio. However the agent (a clever bloke clearly) showed Ince Villanueva. I don’t think Ince is one to be mucked around by agents so he must have been suitably impressed by the lad. The only question is (and we are all asking it): can he survive the EPL?

That question is quite possibly the most cliched in English football, but we’ll wait and see. However, if this guy can deliver what I think he can, then he should fit in really well.

Oh, and he did this in his first competitive game for Chile in last years Copa America….a 90th minute winner:

In other news………..

- New Chelsea signing Jose Bosingwa says he is relished playing against our very own Morten Gamst Pedersen of all people. Take that Ronaldo!

- We have rejected bids for Bentley from Villa and Spurs. Villa claim to be looking elsewhere (though I think they may be back if/when Gareth Barry moves on). If Spurs sell Berbatov then I think they will be able to up their offer to something acceptable.

-Perhaps the worst news of the summer so far (which is an achievement): Brad Friedel wants to leave and will probably go to Villa or Man City. He has been fantastic for us, and I can’t understand why he wants to go. However, the great thing about goalkeepers is that they are the easiest players to replace – a good keeper is a good keeper – but who will replace him? Paul Robinson is being mentioned (for only £2million aswell), but is he as good as Brad? He can be, but his consistency is suspect. I can’t remember watching MOTD in the last 2 years and seeing Alan Hansen or Lee Dixon criticise Brad for a fundamental cock-up. There’s more to come in this story….