Villareal readies its Yellow Submarine to pick up Jozy

By: Dave Martinez | June 4th, 2008

Last year after the U-20’s, Villareal’s name surfaced as a potential suitor to our wunderkind, Jozy Altidore. Last month, the speculation and intrigue over a possible Jozy Altidore to Villareal move captivated our audience and really made people think “What if?”

Today, multiple sources are reporting this as more fact than possibility.

La Marca, a Spanish paper which, depending on who you ask, is or is not reputable,reports that Villareal are aiming for both Jozy Altidore and Roberto Flores as two of its top youth targets, in a group that also includes Villagra, a River Plate forward, Valeri of Lanús (argentina), or Gremios Brazilion duo of Tiago and Douglas. The idea for Villareal is to sign a few budding stars, loan them to Recreativo Huelva, and reap the rewards of some future talent. And the numbers are placed around the $5 Euros (roughly $10 mil American) mark for our boys services.

Ives is reporting that the Red Bull brain trust is investigating whether or not to shop Jozy, or give him more time with the Bulls.

Steve Goff is reporting that the deal is in its “final stages,” where the Jozy transfer could be announced “in a couple of days.”

Analysis

On the one hand, I am happy for Jozy - the kid has busted his hump for two years, made a name for himself where he had none before, and has done it all in a very professional manner.

On the other hand, where would this leave the Bulls?

I, like many other Red Bull fans and followers out there, was prepared for an Altidore exit by the end of this year. Now, in the middle of this fudged Eastern Conference campaign, the loss of a Jozy Altidore would quite readily and clearly relegate our hopes to the bottom of the 2008 barrel. Even if there was someone to step into Altidore shoes now, that person would still have to find time to gel with an injured Juan Pablo Angel, deal with a question mark at CAM, and bare the load of responsibility for scoring goals (what with a depleted and oft injured midfield to contend with).

Not likely to happen.

LIST OF DEMANDS

Lets face it - a departing Altidore plus a losing squad with little goal scoring ability doesn’t sell anyone seats. The Bulls need all the hype and credibility it can get heading into the make or break 2009 season.

If Jozy should go before this season ends, they need the following to happen to insure the Bulls solvency and respectability heading into the 2009 season:

+ They must make the playoffs. No exceptions
+ Three players must be signed, and quickly, during our summer transfer window. And one of them should be a player of name:
+++++ An attacking Left Wing or a natural CAM
+++++ A capable and experienced forward to replace Jozy
+++++ A left sided defender who can play centrally if necessary (preferably, with height)
+ The team must start winning or showing signs of improvement. If the team is floundering and going through the motions in anticipation towards next year, there wont be enough seats to fill Harrison when the stadium is up. And thats a promise.
+ Any deal below 7 million American dollars is not worth it.
+ Any moneys gained from this transfer must immediately be put into the infrastructure project and youth development.
+ Spend the 500K allocation money wisely!
+ Please don’t try to sell us an Echeverry replacing Altidore scenario. To lose a person of Jozy’s caliber, new and more dangerous blood is needed for a proper healing process to occur (Give us Brian McBride!).

What are your thoughts on all of this? Quite the double edged sword isnt it? You want the kid to advance for himself and our country, but wow, will this throw a monkey wrench into the season!

QUICK EDIT: The New York Times is reporting this as a done deal!

QUICK EDIT: Soccer by Ives is reporting Villareal has signed Jozy for $10 million American!

QUICK EDIT: Marca is reporting Villareal has signed Jozy for $15.5 million American (which is $10 million European)!