Beckham, Ronaldo moves dominate deals
(Reuters)Updated: 2007-02-01 08:54
LONDON, Jan 31 - David Beckham's move from Real Madrid to LA Galaxy in a package that could be worth up to $250 million to the player dwarfed every other transfer in the January window which closes on Wednesday.
Although Beckham, 32 in May, could remain at Real until the end of his contract in June, the sporting, cultural and financial aspects of the deal made headlines worldwide.
Other significant moves included Brazilian striker Ronaldo, also leaving Real, for AC Milan and Swedish scoring machine Henrik Larsson arriving on loan at Manchester United.
The moves of Beckham and Ronaldo ended the 'galacticos' era at the Madrid club during which Real bought some of the world's most famous players -- but won nothing significant with them.
Real will not get a transfer fee for Beckham and only received 7.5 million euros for Ronaldo, less than half the sum Milan offered them last August.
As usual Real were also the biggest spenders as they splashed out some 45 million euros on rejuvenating their squad with three South American youngsters -- Argentine duo Fernando Gago and Gonzalo Higuain and Brazilian fullback Marcelo.
Of the other top Primera Liga sides, Sevilla look to have made another astute purchase in Russia's Alexander Kerzhakov, while Atletico Madrid have strengthened their already miserly defence with Brazilian centre back Fabiano Eller.
RONALDO RETURN
Ronaldo's return to Italy overshadowed all the other transfers in Serie A.
The arrival of the three-times FIFA World Player of the Year, along with Italy right back Massimo Oddo from Lazio, would "ensure Milan remain among the elite in Europe" said the club's vice-president Adriano Galliani.
Parma's battle against relegation was boosted when they picked up Italy under-21 striker Giuseppe Rossi on loan from Manchester United. The 19-year-old marked his debut by scoring the winner in a 1-0 victory over Torino.
While league leaders Inter made no moves in the market, second-placed Roma bolstered their squad with Sweden midfielder Christian Wilhelmsson and Valencia striker Francesco Tavano.
Siena also strengthened their attack by signing Massimo Maccarone from Middlesbrough until June 2010.
TOP YOUNGSTER
England's Premier League is awash with cash but the biggest move, with just hours to go before the window closes, involved the fairly modest sum of 9.65 million pounds ($18.86 million) Aston Villa paid Watford for 21-year-old winger Ashley Young.
Most of the other transfers in England were between one and three million pounds, although a signing who cost nothing could be the most astute.
Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson secured a loan deal for prolific striker Henrik Larsson from Helsingborg last November and the 35-year-old Swede marked his arrival with a goal on his debut against Aston Villa in the FA Cup.
Argentina midfielder Javier Mascherano's move from West Ham United to Liverpool was due to be completed later on Wednesday after FIFA sanctioned the deal.
Soccer's world governing body waived, on a technicality, their own rule which
states a player cannot feature for more than two clubs between June 30 in one
year and July 1 the following year.
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