Wilshere Cc
A player’s transfer market value is a good indication on how he played during the year. It can also show us how important a player has become to his team, or his national team.
So who are the players who saw their price soar during 2011? And who are those who will see it climb during 2012?
Values are based on www.transfermarkt.de.
The best performing player in Germany, according to his value’s rise, is Mario Götze. The miniature midfielder has become one of the most recognizable faces for the German champions Borussia Dortmund, and his value soared 66.7% from €18m to €30m – €12m.
It makes perfect sense. He was pivotal in Dortmund’s success, a fact that turned him into one of the hottest commodities in football. The fact that he is not even 20 years of age is another reason why he is one of Europe’s most wanted.
The biggest yield, percentage-wise, in Germany: Bernd Leno,Leverkusen’s goalkeeper, whose value jumped 733% – from €600,000 to €5m.
Let’s move on to Spain, where another small playmaker saw his stock rise. Thiago Alcántara of Barcelona was valued at €5m earlier in the season, but after he signed a new contract at the best club in Europe, his value rose by an amazing 200% to €15m. Is it because he was as important to Barca as Mario Götze was to BvB? No. It’s more due to the fact that with his new contract, he was officially crowned as Barca’s new Xavi, and that’s worth a lot. His price went up mostly because of his potential, and not because of on field performance.
The biggest yield, percentage-wise, in Spain: Dani Pacheco, Rayo Vallecano’s midfielder, whose value jumped 500% to €600,000.
In England, it was Jack Wilshere‘s year. Arsenal’s gem has turned into one of the most important figures at his club and country, and it shows: His value climbed from €10m to €20m – 100%. The biggest value jump in England belongs to Wilshere’s teammate: Carl Jenkinson. Percentage-wise, almost nobody in Europe’s big leagues performed better than the English/Finnish full back: His value soared 1,400% from €50,000 to €750,000.
In Italy, there were two Argentinians that performed admirably in the market value table: Ricardo Álvarez and Érik Lamela. The value of both players climbed by €7.5m. Álvarez’s value currently stands at €11m, while Lamela is valued at €12.5m. The biggest yield was registered by AS Roma’s Fabio Borini, who saw his price jump up by a whopping 3,700% – more than anyone else in Europe. Borini, a former Chelsea player, is now worth €3.5m.
In France, Javier Pastore is the best stock around. His value went up by €9m to €30m – still less than what PSG spent on him in the summer (€40m).
The biggest yield, percentage-wise, belongs to Montpellier goalkeeper Jonathan Ligali (value rose by 700% to €400,000).
NEXT: 2012
Now, let’s move on to 2012.
Allow me to bet on who are going to be the best performing footballers (value wise) in the up and coming year: First bet is on Xherdan Shaqiri. The Swiss is currently valued at €12.5m, but his market price will surely soar this year. I won’t be surprised if he’ll be sold for more than €20m.
Ajax’s Christian Eriksen will probably leave Holland during 2012, and with the richest teams in the world (Chelsea and Manchester City) reportedly after him, his value will surely rise from €9m to the high twenties.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain‘s value is only €6m according to Transfermarkt.de, but that’s going to change. This guy is worth at least €20m, and he’ll prove it during 2012 – maybe even in the Euro tournament.
Sporting Lisbon’s Dutch striker, Ricky van Wolfswinkel, is valued at €6m. I think his name alone is worth more than that. ZING!!!
Anyhow, his scoring record suggests that €15m-€20m is a more suitable price range for him. He’ll be heading to England very soon.
My last bet is on Barcelona’s Isaac Cuenca. His value stands today at €100,000, but it will surely rise very soon: David Villa’s injury will allow him more chances to showcase his skills.
When asked recently about Cuenca, Pep Guardiola said: “Physically speaking he might not be popular with the ladies, but on the field he does things that will amaze you. He does his work perfectly”.
That quote alone should double his value.
WHAT TO DO NOW?