David Villa signs for Atletico Madrid

[lol]

i now agree with levy for not paying the 10. athletico got him for half the price. barcelona was just trying their best to rip us off. not even mad. you think if they offered us the same as they did to athletico, we wouldnt have bid? clearly theres an agenda.

 

[Waiwonder]

Has he actually signed for them? I've been at work all day and sky sports just say a fee has been agreed

 

[vonn]

Be interesting to hear what the ITKs have on this to fill in the blanks.

I should think it's as simple as AM came in for Villa over the last few days and the player would rather sign for them instead of us.

Makes a lot of sense really, gets CL football, gets to stay in Spain, doesn't have to acclimatize to a different country, doesn't have to acclimatize to a different league, probably more wages ....

 

[Cavehillspur]

Gutted

 

[Batal79]

Not gonna go all out on a Levy rant just yet, too early in the window and as much as I would have loved Villa to be "Klinsmann MKII".... I think I'll choose to believe that Villa just was that interested once CL with a Spanish team was on the table.

Like may are saying, though not a Levy type signing, if a deal could of been done without an outlandish fee, I think Levy would have supported AVB and got him in.

Though the fee which has been published is low, but probably in an around what a player in the last year of his contract and near 32 years of age is worth after significant injuries - perhaps that fee was for Athletico only ! and we were still being quoted the 8-10m. A bit insight into this from our learned ITK friends might allay the shock.

Whatever happened behind the scenes, someone better make sure and tell Bale that Villa didn't move because of this family, which will:
(a) Let Bale know the importance of putting family first .... so stay a Spurs for couple more seasons
(b) That we didn't fail on the Villa front for lack of ambition, Bale needs to see his club moving in the right direction, targeting and bringing players not only to push for 4th put to mount a credible assault on the title.

Are we thinking go in big for Benteke now? Got a horrible feeling Mourinho will move for him, viewing him as a striker in the mould of Eto, whom he brought to Inter and landed the triple.

 

[Teddysmith]

As people have said- maybe he didn't want to leave sunny spain and he can play CL football. I am gutted but he would have been expensive (overall package) and is not a Levy style. The initial amount they are talking about is based on Barca still getting money from image rights and a sell on fee. That will bring them more money in than us paying more now.

There is still plenty of time and Franco is the difference this year- we will buy a new striker!!

 

[Drexl]

I await POTL and JJ's comments before passing judgement

Hard to tell whether he turned us down or whether this is a Levy clusterfuck

 

[Pete Spur]

didn't Villa say he'd like a crack at the EPL though before he retired

and like waiwonder said he hasn't exactly completed the deal just a fee agreed

guess we'll find out soon......

 

[Wick3d]

I await POTL and JJ's comments before passing judgement

Hard to tell whether he turned us down or whether this is a Levy clusterfuck

I doubt it is a Levy clusterfuck. The price wasn't that high.

 

[kev1nxxx]

Has anyone said if DV has actually agreed or is it just that Barca and AM have agreed a fee?

 

[Reece]

I've probably just lot a tenner to a gooner at work.

 

[kev1nxxx]

Just wondering if its Barca just trying to force our hand with the transfer fee is all

 

[dagraham]

What worries me is that we need two strikers this window and our top target has just gone tits up.

I don't know what to make of it to be honest. It doesn't look like we've been outbid, it looks like all the noise about him agreeing in principle was just bullshit.

 

[Reece]

It is a little strange to announce a fee agreement on their website. Villa must have an agreement 'in principle' with Atletico already?

 

[alan brazil]

Just wondering if its Barca just trying to force our hand with the transfer fee is all

I hope that's all it is, but I fear villa is lost to us now, what a shame, he is quality and at that price a steal.

 

[nssmuckers]

To be honest for a player who has played in Spain his entire life it's probably more attractive to stay there and play for a Champions League club than us, so I'm not seeing many scenarios in which Levy should be crucified for this. If he would have joined a smaller club I'd probably be a bit perplexed.

 

[TottenhamMattSpur]

Straw clutching time here but. ....
West Ham agreed a fee with Charlton for Darren Bent but he came to us.
Try not to go off topic with that statement. ....!

 

[266in379]

Gnads. Really hope Paulinho doesn't turn out to be THE signing of this summer. Wicked player, yes - but c'mon Dan, you can't win 'em all with midfielders alone!

 

[Cavehillspur]

Straw clutching time here but. ....
West Ham agreed a fee with Charlton for Darren Bent but he came to us.
Try not to go off topic with that statement. ....!

Different scenario here though as I think he has chosen to remain in the same country / play in champions league rather than leave and join us.

Looks as though Barca quoted one fee for ourselves and another, much lower fee, for Atletico - which is shitty!

 

[gumbald]

Guess he would have rather stayed in Spain and possibly made it clear that he wanted to go AM as soon as there was interest. Hey ho, onwards and upwards.