- Feb 13, 2012
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What I can't understand is that if Jason Burt is such good buddies with AVB then why would he report that we are in for Paulinho? Surely AVB would have told him to keep his mouth shut, Burt even said we were afraid of teams gazumping us in his article. I think it's either:
1. We are trying to deflect attention from other targets by saying we're in for Paulinho. Burt may have helped with this.
2. The Paulinho deal is more or less done, it's too late for other teams to come in and therefore OK to report it.
3. Burt is just telling it how it is AVB has been shafted by his 'mate'.
Personally I think it's 1. I think Paulinho is on our list but Bernard is the priority. Burt gave a hint that we may not fully commit to a deal for Bernard because of worries of whether he would be able to adapt to England, I just wonder whether this is to potentially delay other teams coming in for him too. If it was reported that we were seriously interested and close, then other teams have no time to piss about and could decide to make their move. Burt may be telling the truth, we don't know. But i'd find it puzzling considering it could affect any potential deal by giving it exposure in a national newspaper.
I wrote something semi-comedic about this last night & it is strange that Burt would flag up Paulinho so obviously prior to any deal being done. When Paulinho got linked at first he looked to be too expensive too, i'd imagine he'll be going for something in the high teens, Bernard maybe a bit cheaper ie. in our price range.
There's already been rumblings to suggest that the 'Damaio deal is dead' being deliberate misinformation leaked by the club to force Internacional's hand a bit, maybe we're entering a new Cold War of media manipulation...
Who knows, as long as we sign one of them.