Tito Vilanova will have a big void to fill when the
Spaniard departs Camp Nou, but a Russian candidate could guarantee a
smooth changing of the gloves
While Barcelona’s drawn out €57 million capture of Neymar at last
reached its conclusion with the Brazilian’s unveiling on Monday, behind
the scenes at Camp Nou the club have already embarked on another complex
pursuit.
The decision of Victor Valdes to walk away from
Catalunya at the end of his contract in 2014 will bring to an end a
13-year association with the
Blaugrana and leave coach Tito Vilanova with a sizeable void to fill.
The world’s media have been quick to link the Liga champions with anyone who has ever pulled on a pair of goalkeeping gloves
. Goal
understands that Liverpool’s Pepe Reina and Borussia Monchengladbach
No.1 Marc-Andre ter Stegen are the early frontrunners for the impending
vacancy, but Galatasaray's Nestor Mulsera is also an option.
Though
the trio are on Barca’s radar, the erratic form of all three in recent
times will not put supporters at ease or inspire confidence in a
defensive unit that was found wanting for much of last season.
One
man whose name is yet to be churned out by the transfer rumour mill is a
Russian whose CV ticks all the relevant boxes, whose contract expires
next summer and who should be given serious consideration as Barca
president Sandro Rosell prepares to write another substantial cheque.
It
is difficult to believe that it is 10 years since Igor Akinfeev broke
into CSKA Moscow’s starting XI and a decade on there are few better
goalkeepers in world football.
Now 27, the six-foot-one-inch
glovesman can already boast a glittering resume at club level, with four
league titles, six Russian Cups, four Super Cups and a single Uefa Cup
success to his name. And, best of all, his peak years are still in front
of him.
| IGOR AKINFEEV | CSKA Moscow, Goalkeeper, 27 |
| CAREER STATS |
| Appearances |
305 |
| Debut season |
2003/2004 |
| Trophies |
15 |
| PLAYER FILE |
| Contract expires |
30.06.2014 |
| Price tag |
€18m |
| He's a bit like |
Iker Casillas |
Last season was arguably the finest of his career to date. CSKA
lifted their first championship since 2006, with Akinfeev racking up a
commendable 16 clean sheets as the club conceded just 25 goals in their
30 league games.
A week ago
Koni faced Anzhi Makhachkala
in the final of the Russian Cup and their No. 35 showed his thirst for
the big occasion with a performance that drew superlatives from his
peers.
CSKA supporters boycotted the game in protest at the
decision to stage the showpiece in the troubled Chechen capital of
Grozny, meaning the match was effectively an away fixture for the club
as they did battle without the support of their fans.
In the end
it didn’t matter. Anzhi dominated proceedings as they went in search of
their first-ever trophy but, though wave after wave of attacks rained
down on Akinfeev’s goal, he produced three phenomenal saves to thwart
former Barcelona star Samuel Eto’o and single-handedly kept his side’s
dreams of cup success alive.
With the game tied at 1-1 and
neither side able to find a winner in extra time, penalties ensued and
again CSKA’s man between the posts was key, as he saved Yuri Zhirkov’s
effort from 12 yards on the way to a 4-3 shootout success.
Akinfeev
was labelled a “genius” by the man whose cup dreams he shattered from
the penalty spot, Zhirkov, while coach Leonid Slutsky was quick to hail
his player a “hero” after his latest episode of expert glove work.
While
critics may harbour doubts over the credibility of his efforts at club
level outside of one of Europe’s major leagues, the Vidnov-born star
continues to shine brightly on the international stage.
Under the
guidance of Fabio Capello, Russia have won all four of their World Cup
2014 qualifying fixtures so far and sit top of Group F despite having
played two games less than second-placed Israel.
Even more
impressive, however, is the ‘0’ in the goals conceded column. In each of
their four contests Akinfeev has held firm, leaving the eastern
European nation the only side in qualification yet to be breached.
Trusted Hands | CSKA star Akinfeev has been considered a class goalkeeper for a decade
That
feat is all the more impressive given the fact he has bounced back from
a serious knee injury to reclaim his place in the national side.
With
pressure of life at Barcelona one of the primary reasons behind Valdes’
decision to quit the club at the end of next season, strength of
character is a must and it is clear the Russian has that attribute in
abundance.
In August 2011 – and with the prospect of Euro 2012
looming large on the horizon - Akinfeev suffered ruptured knee ligaments
in the Moscow derby with Spartak, following a horror tackle from
Brazilian striker Wellington.
The injury left him sidelined for
seven months and though he returned to first team football in April –
two months ahead of the tournament - former Russia boss Dick Advocaat
opted to start Zenit St Petersburg keeper Vyacheslav Malafeev and left
the CSKA man on the bench.
It was a cruel blow and the second
time in the space of four years that a serious injury had left him
sidelined. He tore knee ligaments for the first time back in 2007, but
on both occasions he has come back a better goalkeeper than before his
physical struggles and proven he has the resilience to succeed at a
bigger club.
Manchester United have long been credited with an
interest in Akinfeev, while big-spending Ligue 1 new-boys Monaco are
another club believed to be keen on his services.
But, with the
clock ticking down on Valdes’ departure and the Russian at the peak of
his powers, it is Barcelona who should look to ensure he doesn’t slip
the net and do all they can to thrash out a deal for a man who will
guarantee a smooth changing of the gloves at Camp Nou.
Barca's
management will do well to tune into Russia's big World Cup qualifier
against Portugal on Friday, as Akinfeev goes head to head against Real
Madrid superstar Cristiano Ronaldo. Yet another cleansheet, and it will
surely be impossible to ignore the CSKA Moscow "genius" any longer.
