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Soccer on the side: Gedo in the Premier League
Published in Al-Ahram Weekly on 09 - 09 - 2013

Mohamed Nagi Gedo is back at Hull City for a second spell but this time in the Premier League, not the championship. Ahli agreed to let Gedo go to Hull City on loan for the second time in consecutive seasons after the English club submitted an official offer just two days before the transfer window closed. Even though time wasn't on the side of all parties involved in the deal, the clubs and the player managed to seal everything hours before the transfer window closed much to the delight of Hull City's manager Steve Bruce and the player himself. Bruce indicated that his club was always interested in signing Gedo for another season but wanted to make sure he had recovered 100 per cent from the injury sustained last season. Gedo spoke to the club's official website as soon as he signed and expressed his extreme happiness about joining the club once again and about linking up with fellow Egyptian star Ahmed Al-Mohamadi as well as Bruce. After wearing 22 last season, Gedo will wear shirt number 18 this season as 22 is already taken by goal keeper Steve Harper. Gedo's first game back at Hull City will be against fellow newcomers Cardiff City.
From good news to Gedo to terrible news for Ahmed Hegazi who suffered a recurrence of his knee injury and will need surgery to overcome the persistent problem. The operation will sideline Hegazi out for another six months which was received by the player with tears. Hegazi, who missed most of last season due to the same knee injury, had hoped to cement his place in the Viola starting 11 this season after some brilliant performances in the preseason but unfortunately this won't be the case. Hegazi's heartache comes from the fact that he did not injure himself this time but felt some pain in the knee and went to inform the club's doctor who immediately felt there was something wrong with the knee which was confirmed by X-rays. Hegazi couldn't hide his extreme sadness after receiving the news to the extent that he cried in the hospital. One can feel for the young Egyptian defender who's passing through tremendously difficult times at the moment.
The international break meant there were no league games at all this week but we give you a round-up of the best transfers in the transfer window:
Mesut Ozil (Real Madrid to Arsenal): The under fire Arsene Wenger was put under intense pressure by Arsenal fans to sign any players after failing to lure names like Luis Suarez, Karim Benzema and many others to the Emirates stadium. Just when the fans started to lose hope of signing anyone in a dull summer, Wenger surprised the whole world as Arsenal announced they signed German superstar Mesut Ozil from Real Madrid for 50 million euros. No one saw this coming is the least that can be said about this deal but certainly it was one that drove Arsenal fans crazy. Real Madrid fans made their feelings towards this deal known when they chanted Ozil's name during Gareth Bale's presentation at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Gareth Bale (Tottenham to Real Madrid): Real Madrid paid a world record fee of 100 million euros to Tottenham to convince Spurs' owner Daniel Levy to part with their best player. Bale was the main reason Ozil left Real Madrid to Arsenal as he knew his playing time would be very limited after the arrival of Bale. The fee is unbelievable given the boy is only 23 years old but Levy made it clear to Real Madrid that there in no way he would let the player go for less than the 100 million. Even though there will be tremendous pressure on Bale, the fans can expect plenty of goals and plenty of unbelievable performances from truly exceptional talent that many football fans around the world consider the third best player in the world after Messi and Ronaldo.
Isco (Malaga to Real Madrid): Bale wasn't the only big name that joined Real Madrid this summer as Spanish starlet and the soon to be superstar Isco left Malaga to join Real Madrid for 30 million euros only. Yes, I wrote only as Spanish fans in particular and football fans who watch the Spanish league in general know that the player will soon be one of the best in the world. The 21-year-old star didn't waste any time showing what he can do for his new club as three goals in the first three league games including two man of the match performances were more than enough for the fans of Real Madrid. Isco is a player who can score splendid goals, create stunning ones and is simply a beauty to the eye on his day. The scary truth is that he'll only get better.
Neymar (Santos to Barcelona): The Brazilian superstar finally left Brazil and Santos in specific to sign for Barcelona for 57 million euros after snubbing Real Madrid and Chelsea to play with Messi. Neymar who's called God of football in Brazil is simply one of the most skillful players in the history of football. He can beat defenders with ease, score goals from anywhere on the field and never settles for less. The young mega star, who's still only 21 years old, already scored 137 goals in 230 games on club level since he made his debut with Santos five years ago. In addition he notched 25 goals in 40 games for his national team Brazil. His stats speak for themselves but the funny thing about Neymar is that most of these goals were out of this world. He was chosen the best player in the Confederation Cup earlier this year and second highest scorer and tormented the Spanish national team in the final. With Messi and Neymar up front it will be very interesting to see who out of Ronaldo/Bale and Messi/Neymar will win the league this season.
Edinson Cavani (Napoli to Paris Saint German): Cavani is easily the best striker the Serie A or the Italian league has seen in the last five years. 104 goals in 138 games for Napoli is not a bad return at all. Cavani knew how to score a goal and that persuaded PSG to pay Napoli 64 million euros to secure the services of the Uruguayan gem. Two goals in his three starts for PSG show that Cavani won't have many problems in having a fruitful season with his new club. Cavani's only difficulty will toping the scoring chart at the end of the season at the expense his partner Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Monaco's new signing Radamel Falcao. It will certainly be another interesting battle.
Radamel Falcao (Atletico Madrid to Monaco): Falcao, like Cavani, is the type of striker who knows where, how and when to score a goal but maybe Falcao's stats are a bit scarier than any striker in the world right now. On club level, Falcao scored 190 goals in 287 appearances for River Plate, Porto, Atletico Madrid and now Monaco where he notched three goals in his first four games. Falcao never disappointed at any of his previous clubs and was always scoring goals for fun. Monaco paid Atletico Madrid 60 million euros to sign the Colombian star knowing the money is well spent. His early showings at the club certainly say so.


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