All things being equal, who would you rather have: Javier Hernández or Fernando Torres? You could see smart people making good cases for either player’s quality, but once you factor in age and the difference in cost, there’s no debate. You’d much rather have ‘Chicharito’ in your squad.
If that premise seems random, consider today’s news out of England, with reports putting Atlético Madrid in a position to choose. Would you rather take on Hernández, a Mexican international who’s approaching odd man out status at Manchester United, or former Atlético striker Fernando Torres, whose similar status at Chelsea comes along with $15 million per year in wages and a $33.8 million price tag?
From England’s Press Association:Javier Hernández is unsure whether he will remain at Manchester United next year, but Atlético Madrid are willing to offer the Mexican an escape route from Old Trafford should he decide to leave. [...]
[Manchester United manager Louis van] Gaal was asked after the friendly win in Washington whether he would consider selling Hernández.
He replied: “That I cannot answer because he is a player of Manchester United at this moment.”
The latter part of the answer seemed to suggest Hernandez could be on his way out of United and there are plenty of interested parties, chief among them Atlético.
Atlético head coach Diego Simeone, having been asked about a series of players this summer, was his typical complementary self, conceding the 26-year-old Mexican could help his squad. From the same report:
“He’s a vertical player, he’s great in one-on-one situations and he’s someone who could be useful to any team,” the Atlético coach told a press conference in Mexico, before his team’s pre-season friendly with Club América.
“We are speaking to the sporting directors about the type of player we want and then it’s up to them to bring the player in. With Javier Hernández and lots of other great players, anything is possible. We can’t close any door until the transfer window shuts.”
With Mario Manduzkic and Antoine Griezmann moving to the Vicente Calderón this summer, Hernández is unlikely to be a starter with Atleti, but with the reigning Liga champions looking to make another Champions League run, ‘Chicharito’ would see plenty of time as Simeone rotates his squad. As a forward that plays along the defense, only Mandzukic would sit above him on the depth chart, while Manchester United has both Robin van Persie and Danny Welbeck in its squad.
Among Hernández’s other suitors are Inter Milan, where he could join former teammate Nemanja Vidic, but Atlético’s interest gives the striker an opportunity to stay in Champions League. If a fee can be agreed, Madrid’s opportunity to escape his Manchester quagmire may be too good to refuse.
