Live
Audio Only
Russia 2018 FIFA World Cup is in the semi-finals stage but the European Transfer Market has delivered the biggest surprises. The first big "transfer" that cause a disturbance in the international soccer world was caused when Julen Lopetegui signed by Florentino Perez to lead Real Madrid.
RELATED:
FIFA Forgets Stance on LGBT Rights, Proves Its Only Allies Are Corporate Sponsors
The former coach of Spain's national team, known as "La Roja," left the outfit two days before the beginning of the World Cup to replace soccer icon Zinedine Zidane as coach of the current UEFA Champions League Champion.
Spain was forced to play their Russian fixtures with Lopetegui's second in command, Fernando Hierro, at the helm. With this predicament, they promptly exited in the second round, where they lost against the host team.
Now, former Barcelona coach, Luis Enrique is going to take the wheel for "La Roja."
The second case: Turin's Juventus bagged the legendary Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi "Gigi" Buffon, who has been introduced as the newest addition to the Paris Saint-German team.
"I come to prove that I am a great goalkeeper, and I think I will achieve it," Buffon declared on arrival at Parc Des Princes Stadium.
Another shocker came when Cristiano Ronaldo, a.k.a "CR7," became one of the biggest exchanges in this summer market.
With a 112 million Euros payment, Juventus got the former Real Madrid superstar, who is now Italy's most expensive signing.
"I think the time has come to open a new stage in my life and that is why I have asked the club to accept to transfer me, I am sorry and I ask everyone, and especially our supporters, please understand me", CR7 shared with his Madrid fans is a farewell letter.
Former F.C. Barcelona and current PSG Brazilian player, Neymar Jr., is being touted as one of the possible players that Real Madrid will try to get to fill the slot left in the team by Cristiano Ronaldo.
RELATED:
Documentary Draws Links Between Football, Dictatorships
Next up is winger Riyad Mahrez, the newest "Cityzen" player.
"I am very happy to arrive at a team that plays great football with Pep," the baller said at his arrival at his new home at the Manchester City headquarters. The "Cityzen" Club paid 70 million Euros to Leicester for Mahrez' services.
Another surprise in the transfer market is the return of Paulinho from Barcelona back to the Chinese Guangzhou Evergrande.
This leaves the Catalan club with a 12 million surplus, but begs the question about who will play in the team's midfield.
Barcelona will need to replace Paulinho as well the legendary "cerebrito" Andres Iniesta who left the Camp Nou to play for Japan's Vissel Kobe.
Adrien Rabiot, Frenkie de Jong, Miralen Pjanic, Marco Verratti and Willian are some of the most common names being mentioned to fill Barcelona's midfield slots.
Newsletter
