This used to be everyday at BMO Field. Sigh.We love us a transfer deadline day. The MLS one is kind of fun for trades but with the multiple windows it can get a bit muddled. On the flipside, when UEFA shuts its window twice a year - it is quite the spectacle. Teams scrapping it out for the title trying to bring in a useful mercenary while minnows try to avoid relegation with a timely loan signing or keep the club alive by selling an asset for big money.

It has been a topsy-turvy week for Milan ahead of Sunday's clash with our dislikeable cousins Inter. The headlines have been dominated by the transfer fiasco involving Carlos Tevez and Alexandre Pato which has left doubts regarding the harmony, or lack of, at the Via Turati. Milan's obsessive chase for Tevez the football mercenary escalated [.

Why Capello's reputation rests on the next six months

Redemption time. Or simply confirmation that he was the most expensive failed mercenary ever. For Fabio Capello, the judgement will be made by July 1, stark and clear-cut. The stain of Bloemfontein, of a World Cup campaign that descended into chaos, farce and ultimately humiliation, still lies over Capello's reputation.

As I am sure you were not surprised to hear, Kieron Dyer is yet again out of action for the season. However much it is a shame for a man of his talent to have to end his career on such a note, the he should just give up. Dyer has not had any kind of form since leaving Newcastle over four years ago, and even there he was so blighted by injury that his wages (and off field behavior) were the cause of embarrassment.

Nicolas Anelka will soon be playing professional soccer in China. This is surprising because Nicolas Anelka is still a talented, effective soccer player who would help all but about 10 teams in the world. This is not surprising because Nicolas Anelka is going to a place where they'll pay him an exponent of a number it'd take me years to count to.

AC Milan midfielder Clarence Seedorf believes that outcasted Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez is a money grabbing mercenary who Milan do not need! Tevez has been frozen out of the picture at Manchester City after his refusal to come on during Manchester City's 2-0 defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League group stages with [.

This is simply brilliant. From Talksport:

Samir Nasri has hit back at critics of his mega-money move to Man City by blasting Arsenal for failing to provide the Europa League football he craved.

Nasri, who was criticised by Arsenal fans and labelled a mercenary when he left for Man City in the summer, feels vindicated following the 2-0 victory over Bayern Munich that helped Man City finish ten points above Villarreal to qualify for the Europa League's last 32.

So, up next, the North London derby. The most honorable Arsenal versus Tottenham's lily-livered lily whites, new and improved with everyone's favorite traitorous mercenary from Togo who, when he's not enjoying long walks with sharp spikes over former teammate's faces and ankles, enjoys long runs to rub salt in the wounds of the away support.

There was one name missing from the team-sheets for last night's match between Manchester United and Spurs, and it was a name that says a great deal about the state of the transfer market in modern football. In the clearest sign yet that he will be leaving White Hart Lane for Stamford Bridge, Luka Modric was a glaring admission from the Spurs team-sheet.

Another season, another defeat at Old Trafford. The experience might be familiar, but we did learn a few new things last night (or at least had our memories jogged).

1. Age is merely a concept

The most pleasing aspect of last night's game was the performance of our geriatric goalie Brad Friedel.

On the face of it, Mario Balotelli is exactly the type of player I, as a thoroughbred American sports fan, should hate: an aloof, cold, joyless sourpuss who even at twenty years old possesses the trappings of a career mercenary. When Super Mario...
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By Chris Wright

Bob Mancini has let slip that Manchester City have shaken hands with Corinthians over a fee for Carlos Tevez (reportedly £40 million plus £5 million in add-ons) with the homesick Argentinian now set to begin discussing personal terms with his former club.

From what one reads Leo Messi will never be the people's player no matter what he does. There are too many questions when it comes to where his heart lies. But the question really should be does Argentina deserve Messi?

The best thing Checho Batista did against Costa Rica was to put that £250,000 per week mercenary Carlos Tevez on the bench.

This week is the first time in really long that we have NOT had a midweek match of any import Citeh vs Stoke, the Manchester version obvisoulsy does not qualify as a 'match'. That's left our football energy levels dangerously low, without its usual midweek adrenalin boost. Even United-lite vs Schalke was fun, especially Anderson's massively-minimalistic, salsa-type, whatever-the-hell-that-was celebration.

Eyebrows were raised when Yaya Toure swapped Barcelona for super-rich Manchester City. After all, Barcelona was the best club in world football and Manchester City was...well, Manchester City. Labelled as a football mercenary, his much publicised wages surely did not make the Ivorian out to be anything but.

And the deal's done. No link to Liverpool's official statement, but the BBC, among others, are reporting £50m, with a rumored wage rise to £175,000 a week. Fernando Torres is confirmed as yet another football mercenary. I don't know why I was initially surprised.
Torres is a tremendous talent – he's demonstrated that time and time again at Anfield – but just urinated all over his potential legacy.

Steven Pienaar liked the look of Stamford Bridge from Fulham Road. Once inside, the South African was not so impressed. Between £40-50K per week, you say? I think I'll bugger on down to the Lane.

Good riddance.

No mercenary

The Steven Pienaar mini-saga is finally over.

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Stop shit, if you can!

Dear Manu, (I would love to drop the 'dear', but my sensibilities don't allow me to do so).

I hope this letter finds you in low spirits. You have remained a cry baby and have been crying for long that we (read: Gooners) have betrayed you. So I take this opportunity to show you the mirror.