July marked the opening of the summer transfer market in Europe. It began with a splash, the news that Steven Gerrard, hero of Liverpool's sensational comeback in its Champions League final against AC Milan, wanted out. Stories of an impending move to Chelsea for a $57 million transfer fee were premature as word came out that Gerrard changed his mind – again – and wanted to stay. Gerrard's about-face had a huge impact on the transfer market. It forced Chelsea to turn attention elsewhere. And Real Madrid, its biggest rival in the Gerrard chase, moved to finalize other deals. As July began, some deals for soccer's hottest names had already been concluded. Park Ji-Sung and Mark Van Bommel happily left 2004-05 European sensation PSV for new opportunities. Other young players, notably Michael Essien, Robinho and Alberto Gilardino, were rebuffed in their attempts to move. Then there was the case of Argentine stars Juan Ramon Riquelme and Javier Saviola, who were unwanted by Barcelona and looked to find permanent homes after loan spells elsewhere. Here's a look at the hot shots drawing the most interest on the international transfer market:
MICHAEL ESSIEN. The 22-year-old Ghana midfielder was rated the top young midfield prospect in Europe after helping Lyon win a fourth straight French league title and reach the quarterfinals of the Championships. Essien wants to leave, but Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas insists on keeping Essien for one more season. Chelsea offered $30 million for Essien, and Aulas turned him down. ''Michael is worth much, much more,'' said Aulas. Lyon is in no rush to sell Essien. Like other French clubs, OL is flush in new money from Ligue's latest TV deal.
ROBINHO. Gerrard was something of a long shot for Real Madrid, but Robinho has been considered a sure thing since last October. One small problem: the summer began without an agreement from Santos, the 21-year-old Brazilian's club. Robinho, variously described as the new Pele or younger version of Ronaldinho, wants to join Real Madrid, but Santos says any suitor will have to pay a ''penalty'' of $50 million for enticing him to leave early, before his contract ends in 2008. Late in returning to Santos after the Confederations Cup, Robinho was said by his agent to be suffering from depression. Spanish papers say Robinho's mood swings are part of an act orchestrated by Real Madrid president Florentino Perez to make Real's offer for a disgruntled player too irresistible for the player's club to pass on. Madrid's latest offer for Robinho: $25 million.
JUAN RAMON RIQUELME. The Argentine's departure after two unhappy seasons at Barcelona could have started the 26-year-old on a downward spiral, but he's resurrected his reputation at tiny Villarreal. Riquelme has blossomed under Jose Pekerman, his old youth coach, on Argentina's national team. His confidence bolstered, Riquelme led Villarreal to third place in La Liga. Then-Barcelona Louis Van Gaal had little use for Riquelme, who arrived from Boca Juniors in 2002. When Ronaldinho joined Barca a year later, Romi was finished at the Camp Nou. Riquelme was brilliant this past season, scoring 16 goals for Villarreal and adding eight assists. He won the award as La Liga's top foreigner. After two years on loan, Riquelme's move to Villarreal became permanent when it paid Barca a base of $8.4 million. The fee could rise to $12 million, depending on the Argentine's performances. Either way, that's a steal for the world's most influential playmaker.
JAVIER SAVIOLA. Like Riquelme, his teammate on the Argentina national team, Saviola is a Barca orphan, put out to pasture by the Catalan club. ''Saviola serves Barcelona, but for this Barcelona other players serve better,'' Barca executive Aitor Begiristain says. Saviola's failure to stick at Barca says more about its success in building a team around Ronaldinho than anything lacking in the Argentine's game. Cameroonian Samuel Eto'o, veteran Swede Henrik Larsson and young Argentine Maxi Lopez are Barca's preferred options up front. Barca wants to get money for Saviola, whose contract is up in 2006, while it can. He spent last season on loan to French club Monaco but could return to Spain, perhaps at Barca neighbor Espanyol.
ALBERTO GILARDINO. Like Essien and Robinho, Gilardino wants to leave his club, but Parma has set the barrier high. Italian observers figured Gilardino's move to Milan was a done deal, but its signing of Inter Milan forward Christian Vieri on a free transfer lessened its need to meet Parma's demands. Parma wanted $36 million for the 22-year-old Gilardino, the top young striker in Italy. Gilardino, whose goal in the Serie A relegation playoff against Bologna helped Parma stay up, was the Italian league's No. 2 scorer with 23 goals, matching his output in 2003-04. Gilardino said Milan was preferred choice, but Juventus, Inter and Chelsea (of course) were all in the hunt for him.
JOAQUIN. Like Riquelme, the Spaniard Joaquin's stock rose as his club climbed the ladder in La Liga. Real Betis was fourth, behind Barcelona, Real Madrid and Villarreal, and reached the 2005-06 Champions League. The 23-year-old winger attracted lots of interest. ''Things are not calm,'' said Betis president Manuel Ruiz de Lopera of the activity. The Seville club set the barrier impossibly high for the likes of Chelsea and Real Madrid. ''The offers that we have been receiving are not like those that other clubs get for their players,'' says de Lopera. ''But we will only begin to contemplate an offer if it is close to the buy-out clause.'' The buy-out clause in Joaquin's contract is believed to be in the range of $70 million.
PARK JI-SUNG. American fans will remember Park as the player who scored a late goal for South Korea in its 1-0 win over Portugal and sent the USA into the second round of the 2002 World Cup at Portugal's expense. Park, 24, has had more success in European than any Korean player since Cha Bum Kun in the Bundesliga more than 20 years ago. Park's play on the right flank was a big reason for PSV's march to the semifinals of the Champions League. Park moved to Manchester United relatively cheaply. He cost United $7 million. The club hopes to recoup its investment from its marketing efforts in Korea. Park is more concerned about his ability to contribute on the field. ''I want to show my value to United in terms of my ability, not for some marketing strategy for Asia,'' he said. ''I am not going to England for business.'' His all-action game is perfectly suited for the Premiership.
MARK VAN BOMMEL. Van Bommel was one of the best Dutch midfielders for years, but injuries hurt his marketability. He was a big part in the PSV's success (league and cup double, in addition to the semifinal appearance in the Champions League) after postponing for a year a move to Borussia Dortmund, where he expected to join Coach Bert Van Marwijk, his father-in-law. In the interim, Dortmund suffered a financial collapse and Van Marwijk left. Van Bommel was one of the most attractive free agents available this summer. He quickly made a decision to join Barca. ''I told my agent that for me there was no other option because I only wanted to play for Barca and that was that, even though there were a number of big teams interested,'' said Van Bommel.
JAVIER MASCHERANO. Mascherano, considered the best young holding midfielder in the world after Lyon's Essien, is the third Argentine player to be acquired by Corinthians this year since the Sao Paulo club was taken over by management group MSI after 2004 Olympic hero Carlos Tevez ($20 million transfer from Boca Juniors) and Sebastian Dominguez ($2.5 million from Newell's Old Boys). The 21-year-old Mascherano cost Corinthians more than $12 million to buy him from River Plate.