Every time I open Twitter or browse the net, my screen is constantly littered with multiple transfer rumours & incessant speculation. Speculation that gets fans talking and dreaming of a better squad in the future. In reality, 70% of those rumours don’t come to fruition and supporters are always left disappointed as a result. Now, it’s time for us at Sports Courant to list the transfers that definitely won’t be happening in 2018 and save us all the grief of false hope.
Here are the 3 unlikeliest transfers of 2018.
Pierre Aubameyang to Real Madrid
The Gabonese international has been begging for a move out of Borussia Dortmund for several seasons now. In the absence of Marco Reus, Pierre Aubameyang has been the main man at the Westfalenstadion. The 28-year-old has scored 133 goals since arriving in 2013 and because of that prolific strike rate, he’s been eager to join his dream club Real Madrid.
Because of that desire, he’s allowed his conduct to slip, often being suspended for behavioural issues. The truth is, Mauro Icardi & Robert Lewandowski are far more attractive propositions, and if Los Blancos are to pay in excess of 100million euros for a striker, it’s certainly not going to be Pierre Aubameyang.
Antoine Griezmann to Manchester United
Rumours of the Frenchman’s impending move to Manchester have been running rampant for the past couple of seasons. It’s reported that Jose Mourinho had the choice between Paul Pogba and Antoine Griezmann two summers ago, but opted with the former due to a midfield crisis at the club.
United’s pursuit of the 26-year-old ended prematurely when the forward signed a new contract with Atletico, keeping him at the club until 2022. The new contract maintained his release clause and made him the highest paid player in the club’s history. Perhaps the pressure of being Atletico’s marquee man has gotten to the Frenchman as he’s only scored 5 league goals this season. Add to the situation that Barcelona are now interested in the forward and Griezmann’s move to Old Trafford in 2018 becomes unlikelier by the second.
Neymar to Real Madrid
For some unknown reason, rumours in the past few months have suggested Neymar is already ready to leave Paris and swap it for the sunny Madrid. Suggestions of a rift between him and Edison Cavani are true, but not enough for the Brazilian to leave Paris Saint-Germain after a world record transfer in the summer. The fact is, Los Blancos don’t have the £200million + to spend on Neymar right now and even if they did, Paris Saint-Germain has the capabilities to reject such money anyway.
Some have gone as far to say that Neymar only went to Paris Saint-Germain to use them as a stepping stone for Real Madrid in a few years’ time. Regardless of the truth, the two mega-clubs are set to face off in the Champions League knock-out stage, and Neymar will now be given the opportunity to show up his idol Cristiano Ronaldo at the Bernabéu.
