Deadline day a bust for soccer powers

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Brazilian soccer player Robinho meets reporters in Gallarate, near Milan, Italy, Tuesday.

LONDON -- Europe's top clubs mostly skipped the chance to make their final signings until 2011, but AC Milan was involved in Tuesday's biggest deals with Manchester City misfit Robinho added to a formidable forward line and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar sold to Schalke.

German club Schalke was one of the continent's busiest clubs with midfielder Jose Manuel Jurado and defender Nicolas Plestan also joining Huntelaar on deadline-day.

Several World Cup stars used their enhanced reputations to switch across the globe, with Ghana forward Asamoah Gyan leaving Rennes for Premier League side Sunderland, while Netherlands midfielder Rafael van der Vaart was closing in on a late move to Tottenham from Real Madrid.

But Barcelona, Real Madrid, Inter Milan, Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal all resisted the chance to make any late additions to their squads, reflecting the frugality that has hit the once-frenzied last day of summer trading.

In the Premier League alone, spending was down by 100 million pounds (C$163.5 million) from the 2009 summer window, although Manchester City's spree accounted for more than a third of the 350 million pounds splurged since the end of the last season.

England captain Rio Ferdinand dubbed it the "recession window."

"Transfer deadline day was dead," the Manchester United defender posted on Twitter. "I was anticipating some crazy last day bonanza deals but got nothing of the sort!"

Two years ago, deadline day was set alight by underachieving Manchester City being bought by a wealthy Abu Dhabi sheik, who immediately bankrolled the audacious signing of Robinho from Real Madrid.

The 32.5-million-pound (C$53.1 million) British record capture provided the statement of intent required by Sheik Mansour, but he failed to adapt to life in England and was sent out on loan to Brazilian club Santos in January.

Milan reportedly paid 15 million euros (C$20.3 million) to secure Robinho's services on a four-year deal. He will be competing for a starting spot alongside newly signed Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Ronaldinho and Alexandre Pato as Milan looks to end Inter Milan's five-year reign as Serie A champions.

"Our goal has to be to win very important titles," Robinho said. "All the Brazilians on the team will give me a big hand inserting myself into the squad. I hope to create a lot of history for this club."

Robinho's arrival enabled Huntelaar to move to Germany on a three-year contract.

Schalke manager Felix Magath, who is revamping the team by releasing costly veterans, on Tuesday captured Plestan from Lille on a three-year contract and midfielder Jurado from Atletico Madrid on a four-year deal.

A hat trick of signings were also made by Premier League club Birmingham, with midfielder Alexander Hleb picked up on a season-long loan from Barcelona, Chile midfielder Jean Beausejour joining on a three-year deal from Mexican side Club America and Spartak Moscow defender Martin Jiranek signing a one-year contract.

Sunderland broke its transfer record to sign a striker after Fraizer Campbell was sidelined for at least six months after rupturing knee ligaments.

American owner Ellis Short paid more than 13 million pounds (C$21.2 million) for the 24-year-old Gyan, whose World Cup goals helped Ghana reach the quarter-finals for the first time.

-- The Associated Press

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition September 1, 2010 C9