Saturday, January 16, 2010

Has CSKA Moskva seen the last of Vágner Love?

Less than twenty-four hours after German media giant Bild revealed a deal was in place to send CSKA Moskva striker Vágner Love on-loan to Hamburger SV, Flamengo scored a stunning coup and bested the Bundesliga side’s efforts resulting the striker joining the Brasileirão champion through July 2010. The question now is whether Vágner Love has played his final match for the Army-Men?

Vágner Love came to CSKA Moskva in 2004 after debuting for the São Paulo based Palmeiras two years prior. In his opening campaign, he fit in well fellow strikers Dmitri Kirichenko and Ivica Olić, adding nine goals in twelve appearances. In the ensuing years, his abilities continued to grow the Army-Men, playing a key role in the 2005 UEFA Cup triumph as well as the domestic double mid-decade. In 2008, he career jettisoned forward with twenty goals in domestic competition, including a stunning seven markers against FC Moscow and Rubin Kazan in the final month of the campaign. The following year began with great promise with the hiring of legendary Brazilian Zico to manage the club but in direct reversal Vágner Love's production nose-dived. With rumours swirling regarding of the drop-off of play, he was returned to his native Brazil on-loan to Palmeiras, at that time through to July 2010, under the pretext to need to address personal matters.

Though terms of the deal have not been revealed, in particular if there is an option to sign the striker at the end of the loan, it is quite possible that CSKA supporters have seen the last of Vágner Love. In his formal presentation to the Rio de Janeiro media, the new striker expressed that joining the “rubro-negra” was a boyhood dream and the general proceedings seemed nothing like a short-term loan. Adding that paired with former Internazionale man Adriano, rejuvenated since joining Flamengo, the club now possesses one of the sports most powerful attacking units, he is eager to push the Brazilian side to greater glory. Such enthusiasm, though easily flamed in an opening press conference could easily been seen as a shape of things of come.

Prepared by J. Davies
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