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Top five free transfers of 2020

Historically, A free transfer has always elicited mixed emotions from fans since it has been seen as a discount rather than a luxury. In some cases, the club which is letting a player go for free is also disappointed since they do not earn any profit especially if they had bought the player for a huge amount. A few clubs are more than happy to let an old player go for free since the wage bill will get reduced giving them money to buy a rising young star. Just like any other summer transfer window, 2020 has also featured all kinds of free transfers and here we will look at five such signings,

5. David Silva

The little magician was an integral part of the Spanish side that won all the major International trophies and was a legendary figure at Manchester City. Initially, there were talks of Inter Miami buying him but in the end there were two prime contenders, Lazio and Inter Miami. In the end, Silva decided on a move to La Liga and to a team which will suit his style of play. The decision irked Lazio sporting director Igli Tare who claimed he had lost respect for Silva after he subbed them in favor of Sociedad.

4. Edinson Cavani

Cavani has been one of the best strikers of the past decade and was a vital cog in a PSG side that completely dominated Ligue 1. However, Icardi’s loan move and his subsequent success robbed Cavani off some valuable playing time and he decided to spend his twilight years away from PSG. After lengthy talks with Manchester United, he was announced on the very last day of the transfer window which also highlights United’s poor decision making. The timing of the announcement made it clear that Cavani was never a prime target and just a cheap alternative in case they failed to sign Sancho. Cavani can still be a success at United but he will only get limited playing time due to the presence of younger and faster forwards

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3. Thiago Silva

One of Chelsea’s many signings in this transfer window, Silva’s transfer could prove to be the most important one considering Chelsea’s defensive issues. Thiago Silva was the captain of Brazil too and his defensive prowess played an important part in his country’s 2020 Copa America triumph. He had a horrible first half in his debut for Chelsea, committing an error which directly led to a goal but recovered well in the second half. He might not play all the games due to his age but is certainly expected to start in big games.

2. Willian

A transfer which raised a lot of eyebrows initially since Arsenal were looking for someone younger and more creative like Houssem Aouar. But the doubts were dispelled in the very first game itself as his incredible work rate and combination play with the forwards impressed Arsenal fans. He seems to be a sure starter in the Arsenal eleven and with truck loads of experience, he will be crucial to Arsenal’s hopes of qualifying for the Champions League

1. James Rodriguez

Initially, it was reported that Everton paid Real Madrid in the range of 20 million euros to acquire James’ service. Later it was revealed by multiple sources that it was indeed a free transfer and James had signed a confidentiality agreement to keep the details of the transfer a secret between the parties. James seems to be on the verge of a career resurgence with scintillating performances for Everton since his first game. He has quickly adapted to the Premier League despite many people believing that his style of play might not work in England.

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