Can't buy me love

The economics of South and Central American futebol have been problematic throughout the history of professional leagues in the region. It's not at all uncommon for players to go weeks without pay as cash-strapped clubs struggle to stay afloat: maintaining pitches and aging stadiums while arranging for travel on the more-oft-than-not substandard infrastructures found in many Latin countries. Due to this state of affairs, top players from the region flock to Europe, Asia, and, more recently, Mexico with the promise of steady pay and, in some cases, greater exposure and a larger pay day.

With a new found treasure-trove, SC Corinthians Paulista are now a far cry from the average Brazilian club's financial reality. A cash influx from London-based Media Sports Investments (MSI) has enabled the Sao Paulo club to embark on a Abramovich-like spending spree (by South American standards) with the club acquiring some of the best talent in Brazil and Argentina. In fact, the Kia Joorabchian-lead firm has lavished $40million in player acquisitions upon the club, including the shock signing of Argentine wunderkind Carlos Tevéz from legendary Buenos Aires club Boca Juniors.

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Vagner Love has been targeted by the Corinthians.

Given the predominate financial state amongst the regions futebol clubs, Corinthians (pronounced core-in-chee-ins) were able to coolly slap a stack of cash down when seeking the services of Tevéz, Javier Mascherano (River Plate), and Sebastián Domínguez (Newell's Old Boys) from their respective Argentine employers. Ditto for the purchases of playmaker Roger from Carioca side Fluminense and holding midfielder Marcelo Mattos from local rival São Caetano. Combine this with the purchase of Carlos Alberto (FC Porto) and Gustavo Nery (SV Werder Bremen) for relatively low costs - both were considered "surplus to requirements" - and Corinthians must've thought they'd become Chelsea south of the Equator.

This early success seems to have somewhat tainted the club's stance toward acquisition; they were soon to learn that finances are an altogether different sport in Europe. As early as last winter, they tabled their first offer for CSKA Moscow forward Vágner Love. The bid for Love, which is now in the neighborhood of $15million, has not been so successful.

Why Vágner Love?

Born Vágner Silva de Souza June 11th, 1984 in Rio de Janeiro, the man who would be Love went by Vágner Silva at the start of his career. The nickname Love stems from an incident in his earlier Palmeiras days: he was caught in the team hotel with a member of the fairer sex. The playfully ironic chants of the Verdão faithful, however, didn't put a damper on the young goal-scorer's on-field performances (or off-field apparently).

In the year and a half prior to his transfer to Russia, Vágner Love helped a reeling Palmeiras claw back into Brazil's Serie A with a stellar 2003 tournament netting 19 times en route to the Serie B title. In early 2004, his twelve tallies were tops in the Paulista (São Paulo state championship). That net-bulging momentum propelling him into the 2004 Brasileirão, he again made the jaws of Palmeirenses hit the bleachers with a fantastic display of goal-scoring prowess, 8 strikes in 11 appearances. Performances and results of this level garnered him much love from the club's supporters.

During the Paulista, the prolific striker began cultivating his beaded locks, soon swapping the green and white of Palmeiras for the red and blue of CSKA. A $7.5 million dollar offer from the Russian side was too rich for the folks at the Parque Antartica to pass up. In the eyes of most, the player has yet to be replaced.

Fast forward to the Russian winter of 2004 and what was blossoming into a beautiful friendship began to wither in the face of a homesickness exacerbated by the birth of Vágner's first child in Brazil. Despite scoring 12 times in 20 appearances, a feat which began to endear him to CKSA fans, the player began to drop hints of a rapid return to the home of jogo benite claiming the frozen winter landscape of the former-Soviet state was no place to raise his child.

These hints soon took, diplomatically speaking, a more direct form when the player called his own press conference to announce a transfer to Corinthians. During this presentation, he sported white and black beads in his locks (the colors of his would-be side) and for good measure a team jersey bearing the number 9 and his name. Understandably, this wasn't the most palatable exercise of free speech for the Russian club. Realizing his mistake, Love quickly distanced himself from the debacle, refusing to address the subject. In a demonstration of on-field professionalism, he went on to score 6 more goals in 13 games, including a 75th minute strike in UEFA CUP final, icing the Russian side's historic triumph.

While Vágner was helping his side to European glory, Corinthians were in the midst of a shopping frenzy, securing the services of the aforementioned players, while continuing to bid for Love. Despite rejection from CSKA, Corinthians has stubbornly refused to look at any other strike partner for Carlitos (Tevéz). In consequence they've lost out on the potential services of another young talent in Fred (Cruziero) and the mercurial talent that is Marcio Amoroso (now with rivals São Paulo). In their defense, Corinthians haven't exactly struggled to score goals with 39 in the first 17 matches of the 2005 Brasileirão. The emergence of Jô and Bobô has helped greatly in that respect, but many Timão supporters and media pundits still consider the side incomplete, a work in progress citing a world class center forward as the missing cog, despite the improving performances of the youngsters.

With CSKA asking $20million and Corinthians willing to pay only $15million it appears they won't get their man. CSKA's financial position is far stronger than that of the South American clubs Corinthians normally wheels and deals with, thanks in no small part to investments from the foremost Russian oligarch himself, Roman Abramovich. To boot, the player isn't surplus, as with Nery and Carlos Alberto, but an integral part of the squad. The Russian outfit can bide their time and hold out for more money, which they know MSI has at its disposal. Under that scenario, CSKA wins, whether or not they retain the services of the player. Let's face it, in two or three seasons, if he maintains his current strike rate, Chelsea or some other footballing financial colossus will buy his rights for an obscene amount of cash; after he's obtained EU papers, of course.

If any of this sounds familiar to those of you who follow European football, there's good reason. Chelsea and Olympique Lyon have taken pretty much the same stance over the proposed transfer of Ghanian midfield bulldog, Michael Essien, from the French to the English champions. In that case, as well as in the case of Robinho to Real Madrid, the player in question is a vital part of the selling side, who again know the potential buyer has far more funds to shell out. While Santos eventually did sell their phenom, Lyon are holding out for more money (purportedly $45million) and/or player(s). After their fourth consecutive league title and an appearance in the Champion's League semi-finals, the French club find themselves in a tidy financial situation, one in which they don't necessarily need the funds the sale would generate. Whether or not Essien leaves, Lyon will be the relative winner in the struggle. They'll either keep a world-class player in the side (although that likelihood has diminished in the face of his strike threats) or earn a profit which would allow them to buy several players in an effort to replace him.

As an aside, the antics of Essien reveal something of the player's character, which pales next that of Vágner, who, accepting his professional fate and failed attempts at an enforced exit, has continued scoring despite his desire to mosey on down the trail.

As Chelsea should've learned when club officials jetted to Milan flaunting their massive war chest hoping to lure Ukrainian striker Andriy Shevchenko from AC Milan, not every one and everything has a price in dollars. Corinthians are learning that same lesson and getting no love from CSKA in the process. Money may get you titles but you can't buy history or class - Liverpool fans were deservedly keen to point this out to Chelsea after the Reds triumph in Istanbul. So, it would also seem that the song is true: money can't buy you love, Vágner Love, either.

Jim Kopcak is a graduate of the College of the Holy Cross. He covers European soccer for ESPN Soccernet.com and currently lives and works in Providence, RI. He can be reached at JimKopcak@hotmail.com