As you will have seen if you've been scanning the Seville newspaper websites in the last couple of days, the latest episode of the Emaná culebrón (soap opera) is well under way. Negotiations with Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal are reportedly far advanced, although a sign of the uncertainty still surrounding the deal is that while Diario de Sevilla say that the player has agreed terms but the clubs are still talking, AS say it's the other way round and that it's now all up to Emaná himself.
Either way, it does seem very likely that he will be leaving Seville today. For the player it means a new four-year contract worth around twice what he would have got at Betis; for Betis it means enough money recouped and saved to go on a shopping spree. Pepe Mel still wants central defender, a left-back, a defensive midfielder and a replacement for Emaná himself.
While, as I've said before, I think this type of deal was always inevitable, it does seem a shame that a player as watchable as Achille Emaná should be heading off to a corner of the football world as obscure as the Saudi Professional League. But I'll write more if and when the whole thing is signed and sealed.
Yeah this really sucks. I did like the way Emaná played. He seemed to really rise to the occasion when he donned la camisa del VerdiBlanco. Adios Emaná, Buenos Suerte!!!
Posted by: robdog | Friday, 29 July 2011 at 07:00 AM
Such a great player on his day; I'll miss him a lot but if it means we can strengthen in other more pressing areas then so be it. Adios Achille
Posted by: Rob | Friday, 29 July 2011 at 08:14 AM