Tuesday 3 December 2013

Javier Pastore - On the move?

Javier Pastore was one of the first to make the money guzzling trip to France when Paris Saint Germain joined the European riches, but what lies next for the Argentine midfielder? His career in the French capital has spluttered along, with brief interludes of the play that warranted his 40 million Euro move from Palermo in the summer of 2011. Pastore’s career has reached a hectic cross roads, with the latest comments suggesting some time to win over Paris’ finest, whilst others seem to look at another money move on the cards with the Premier League touted as a likely destination for the 6 foot 2 inch play-maker.


Pastore’s next move – assuming he leaves the riches of Paris – could be the defining point in his career (although his journey to France was meant to be fulfilling that purpose) and the question lies to where he should go, and who should take him on, is he a gamble, or potential bargain? Not only for Pastore, but which clubs around Europe could do with a player of his ilk – the attacking midfield market is in somewhat of a bulge over recent years with the adoption of a 4-2-3-1 formation but many.

The career of Javier Pastore has yet to take off in Paris, despite the chance to feed to of the best strikers in the world – Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Edison Cavani – he has not particularly excelled himself, although this has yet to scare off many potential new clubs for Pastore in the upcoming January window. Having only been credited with 12 assists, now into his third year at the club, perhaps a change of scene and league would do the Argentine’s career good, several clubs have been in the reckoning – but who needs him most?

A player capable of much, fails to impact a game far too frequently – but seldom does that effect the biggest
clubs from pitching for a player, as the very best manager’s seem to hold an inherent self belief of making the most flamboyant and inconsistent players into efficient winning robots; see Ferguson with Ronaldo and Berbatov. Does this open a move to Manchester United? Well with an accepted weakness in midfield it wouldn’t be a terrible move for either party, although Moyes’ style and desire for hard working play may see a Kagawa-style low minutes count for Pastore but the creative edge would surely help at Old Trafford, similarly at Anfield where Pastore has been heavily linked with a potential move.  Although the situation at Anfield remains similar, there are entrenched differences in the issues that could face the lanky creator. With the Sturridge and Suarez partnership seeming an ideal target for any willing creative midfield player, the ability to fit Pastore into a 3-5-2 system would be difficult at the best of times, particularly with the competition posed by Philippe Coutinho. Javier Pastore’s ability is not in question, but perhaps is suitability to many systems in the ever-competitive number 10 market rules him out of the running for some clubs, with Liverpool seeming a likely destination, his on-pitch time may not markedly increase.

A market for a player of Pastore’s quality seems to be always swimming with big club predators but often fails to make the impact or the transfer, perhaps destined to be a bench player by his very nature his talent and ability should make much more of a potentially shining career, a move to the Premier League could be his ultimate chance – and he may just grasp it with both hands.

By Sam Cox.

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