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The transfer window for teams in Europe’s top soccer leagues closed on Thursday, but Julián Carranza was not left out of it.
That wasn’t expected at the end of Union’s last season. Just last month, Carranza told the Inquirer that with his contract expiring this year, he knew he needed to move this winter to capitalize on his market value. That’s what it means. The team would rather wait to acquire him for free, so a sale this summer likely won’t involve a large transfer fee.
Why hasn’t the 23-year-old Argentine striker, who played 80 games for Union and scored 33 goals and provided 20 assists, been sold? Sources familiar with the matter told the Inquirer that there are no clubs interested in him. He said either they didn’t offer him enough money or he wasn’t where he wanted to be.
The leading name in the first category is Greece’s Olympiakos, who offered about $7.5 million last summer, plus incentive-based bonuses and an unknown sale fee. Union said no, believing they could do better. And just as importantly, they wanted to keep Carranza all year long to win the title.
The names in the second category begin with Werder Bremen of the German Bundesliga. Bremen repeatedly expressed interest, and at one point negotiations were far advanced. But Carranza didn’t want to go there.
» Read more: Julián Carranza knew what was at risk for him in the winter transfer window
Two other clubs, Mainz of the German Bundesliga and Ipswich Town of the English Second Division Championship, also held serious negotiations. Ipswich currently sit in second place and are pushing towards promotion to the Premier League.
Carranza didn’t want to go to either club.
It’s unclear where exactly Carranza wanted to go, but you’re not alone in wanting to set your sights on Spain or Italy. The problem is that most teams in these countries, especially those just below the elite who want a player with Carranza’s characteristics, don’t have enough money at the moment.
In fact, the transfer window across Europe remained flat. Even as the spending rules that have real-life consequences come into play, the English Premier League’s deep-pocketed teams have remained uncharacteristically resistant.
Transfer windows in some European countries did not close on Thursday. The most important team in terms of potential teams to spend money on is Turkey, where the transfer window closes on February 9th. But it is definitely maybe at the moment.
What about the teams with money in Brazil and Mexico? None currently on the radar.
» Read more: Union and Alejandro Bedoya finally agree on new one-year contract
Another option would be a trade within MLS. But it’s not just a nuisance for the optics. The acquiring team would not only have to write a sufficient check (through the league’s allocation system, not direct cash), but would also have to assume Carranza’s young designated player status and salary. He made $950,000 last year and likely received a raise this year.
In hindsight, should the association have signed Olympiakos last summer? Given their situation at the time, many fans would say no. They are the reigning Eastern Conference champions and should be in good shape for another deep race in the playoffs.
Perhaps the winter offer would have satisfied the union financially, otherwise we wouldn’t have achieved this much.
This story isn’t over yet. That won’t happen until Carranza moves elsewhere or signs a new contract with the Coalition. (That seems like the least likely outcome at this point.)
But it may be a while before the next chapter is written.
» Read more: Andre Blake reflects on his 10 years with the union and his growth as a leader
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