Transfer rumours

It's easy to forget in the footballing world of big business, but the commodities being traded are people. And sometimes they don't want to do what their clubs want, contract or no contract. Just look at the cases of Patrick Vieira and Samuel Eto'o, to name but two. Vieira has been the subject of rumours about a possible move from Arsenal to Real Madrid every year for the last three years or so, but it now appears that the player wants to go. Arsenal are trying to put their foot down, but who wants an unhappy player on their books? The Eto'o case has been dragging on all summer, and everybody thought it was over when Real Madrid agreed with Mallorca to buy out his rights and lend him back to the Balearic Island side. But Eto'o was having none of it, and is doing everything in his power to get the club to agree to a counter-offer from Barcelona. Elsewhere Javi Moreno doesn't want to leave Atlético Madrid again, despite a reasonable offer from Zaragoza. The club's management have threatened to leave him without a squad number if he doesn't go, but then he could take them to court for not allowing him to ply his trade, and he would probably be allowed to move where he wants on a free transfer, leaving Atlético without their transfer fee. Player power. (01.08.04)