Africa pushed football transfers

Participation at the World Cup forced several Slovak footballers to change clubs during the winter.

Sitting on the bench before the World Cup means a threat for any national team player. Even such a threat that he could lose his place in the squad for the tournament. Several Slovak players were aware of this. Their agents were therefore feverishly looking for new clubs in winter where their situations could improve. “We will do everything so that our footballers play in the best possible clubs before the championship,” said Karol Csonto, football agent of most Slovak internationals from the company Stars & Friends.

Defense wanted a change
Slovaks with stable club positions took no risks, transfers were mostly considered by substitutes. “Before the World Cup it’s especially important to consider whether the player will actually play,” said Jozef Tokos, who represents Slovak goalkeeper Jan Mucha. “If you change clubs, there is always the risk that you won’t play at the new one. And before the World Cup, that risk doubles,” added Milan Lednicky, who represents Miroslav Stoch and Filip Holosko. As many as three regular members of Slovakia’s defense wanted to change clubs. Two succeeded. The most urgent case was Jan Durica. He had no choice; he had to leave Moscow. In Russia the coach ignored him, he hadn’t played for eight months and twenty-two matches. A loan move to Hannover in Germany should be salvation for him.

Pekarik and Cech did not succeed in moving
Radoslav Zabavnik was without a club, a free agent. Mainz could be a good choice. This player’s qualities should be enough for a mid-table Bundesliga team. If the coach gives him enough chances, he can prepare well for the World Cup. Not everyone who tried managed to move, however. Peter Pekarik was not allowed to leave, not even on loan. So it only remains to hope that with the arrival of a new coach at Wolfsburg (still awaited), his benchwarmer situation changes. Marek Cech was also not released by West Bromwich, although French side Rennes showed serious interest in him. The Slovak played little in autumn, but it seems his position is now improving. He was in the starting lineup in the last three matches of Roberto di Matteo’s team. In a situation similar to Durica or Pekarik was winger Vladimir Weiss Jr., who didn’t play in any of Manchester City’s 22 league matches. He came to Bolton at the request of coach Owen Coyle. In a team fighting against relegation he could finally get plenty of playing time before the World Cup and become one of the key men. He certainly has the ability. Midfielder Marek Sapara transferred from Rosenborg Trondheim to ambitious Turkish club Ankaragücü. The Turks did not hesitate to invest 2.2 million euros. Sapara believes this increases his chances of making the World Cup squad. “In Turkey the player quality is higher than in Norway. That’s why I left,” said Sapara.