Transfer Watch: Jose Antonio Reyes

Today saw us linked again to Reyes in the Guardian, let’s took a look into his football history.

Came into the Premiership in a £14 million deal from Seville in 2004. He didn’t want to come to England but Seville then we’re an average La Liga team and needed the cash. His impact on the Arsenal team was immediate, scoring twice v Chelsea on his full home debut, to send them into the FA Cup quarter finals and then helping Arsenal to become the only side in English history to win the top division without being beaten.

This was as good as it got for Reyes, as he got homesick, didn’t like the English weather and then saw Arsenal struggle after their record breaking season. In 2006 he announced he would never play for Arsenal again, after losing his place in the Spanish squad and announced he wanted to join Real Madrid. So a loan deal to swap Reyes for Julio Baptista was made. He only lasted the one season at the Bernabeu, struggling with form, which saw him mainly used as a Sub by Fabio Cappello. His time at Real ended on a high, as he scored twice after coming on v Real Mallorca after being behind, which won them their first La Liga in 4 seasons. He then joined Real’s city neighbours Athletico after they went on a spending spree after selling Fernando Torres and qualifying for Europe for the first time in 8 years. He has struggled again for form and has now been left out of the Athletico’s summer pre-season squad.

My advice is that if he didn’t like the weather down south, then what will he feel like coming north and feeling the bitter wind’s from the North Sea. Also most likely to want a big payday up here, making the deal even less likely. But you never know!!!

Verdict: Damaged Goods, Stay Well Away