Loading ...Aug 12 2008
Cuellar Sale First Effect of Rangers’ Euro Exit
When, last week, Rangers lost their second round Champions League qualifying tie with Lithuania’s FBK Kaunas, there was immediate speculation that the Glasgow club would have to sell players. Without the extra income those European football matches would bring, Rangers needed to offload some of its more costly players. That speculation turned to fact today.
Carlos Cuellar, who missed the tie against Kaunas with injury, was sold to the Premiership’s Aston Villa. The reigning Scottish Premier League Player of the Year was sold to the defender-starved club for £7.8 million, a totally which might keep any other players from having to be sold.
The Spanish center back fills an immediate, desperate need for Martin O’Neill’s team. Their already thin club was stretched thinner when, in their last Intertoto Cup match against Odense BK, lost Wilfred Bouma with a right ankle dislocation. So thin was Villa that they brought wantaway midfielder Gareth Barry in as a replacement to play left back.
Cuellar not only adds depth, but he adds the type of quality a team which expects UEFA Cup qualification needs. It is a great, steadying addition for O’Neill’s side - £7.8 million well spent, considering Villa was less than a week away from starting their league campaign without barely enough backs to play their preferred formation.
For Rangers, it solves any financial concerns they may have had while dealing the club a huge hit on the field. Still, Walter Smith has expressed his disappointment, saying that the move comes as a surprise and the fee will be reinvested in the club. Perhaps that is the case, but this move did not come out of nowhere. The minute the Rangers’ loss was made final last week, speculation of sales started. It sounds like Smith may be saying the right things - trying to keep the club focused on the new season - but Cuellar moving on can not be a real surprise.
There was almost no gap between them an Celtic atop the SPL before the sale. After selling their best player, Rangers have to be considered underdogs to defend the two trophies they earned last season. Perhaps it needed to be done, and no ardent Rangers follower should be surprised, but that doesn’t make the move any easier to swallow. Having to sell your best player only underscores the shock of last week’s loss.
For Cuellar, he moves to a quality club that has the talent to play near the top of the Premiership for the duration of his stay at the club. He is only 26-years-old, making this the perfect time to make the next step in his career. Champions League football could have been it, but the Premier League will give him the same opportunity to play against the elite. While he loses the big fish, small pond feel of the Scottish League, he gets to move to a club that will be playing some sort of European football while being guaranteed full time action.
Quotes
“If Rangers had still been in Europe I think Carlos would have stayed for another season.” - John MacDonald, former Ranger
“But with Rangers out so early, and with no Uefa Cup football either, he must have thought it was time to go. It’s a major blow because no team likes to lose their best players and he had a great season for us.” - MacDonald
“This is the best league in the world and last year Villa did very well. They play very good football and had a fantastic season.” - Cuellar
“So I am very happy to come here with the opportunity to play in the Premier League. We are also playing in Europe this season, so that will be good.” - Cuellar
“I watched Villa last season and Martin O’Neill is a very good coach. He plays exciting attacking football and I am excited to be here.” - Cuellar
“My ambition is to play for my country and I think with Aston Villa I will have that possibility. Every player wants to play international football and that is my aim.” - Cuellar
“This has come as a surprise and I am disappointed. Carlos Cuellar has been a great player for the football club and inevitably there has been speculation about him playing in the Premiership.” - Smith
“The club has received a substantial uplift in fee and we will now reinvest in the team.” - Smith
“The Rangers supporters have been fantastic to me, but I am young and I want to play at the highest level and I hope they will always welcome me back. I want to thank them for everything.” - Cuellar
Links
Ex-Ranger Blames Euro Exit For Cuellar Move
Cuellar Swaps Rangers for Aston Villa
Cuellar Completes Villa Move
Villa capture Cuellar
Aston Villa agrees to buy Cuellar from Rangers
Cuellar completes £7.8 million move to Villa
Cuellar completes Villa switch
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