Spanish Debate: Déjà Vu For Journeyman Saviola?

As Saviola scored early on against the Basques, it looked like he'd never been away. His was a confident breakthrough and a clean finish - albeit from close range - and one worthy of a forward who had months earlier completed a move from one of Spain's big two to the other.

Yet his brief moment of joy masked what has been yet another disappointing season for the diminutive Argentine. After all,

Not Again

In fact, this pattern is far from new. Saviola, while a relatively big name, hasn't been a non-loan, first pick, first teamer since 2004. True, his spells at Sevilla and (to a markedly lesser extent) Monaco were successful, but he was a mere journeyman, there for a season only. His last campaign at Barcelona was one of minimal involvement; Real Madrid was supposed to be a step back into the limelight.

It has been a disappointing season in that regard. Very much a rotation player, he's taken part in just seven Liga games - four as a starter and three as a substitute, and even at that he only played for ninety minutes twice. A tally of three goals in that time is respectable enough, yet he doesn't hold down a spot.

On the face of it, it's understandable: after all, the unshiftable club legend that is Raúl occupies one of the forward slots, while on-form Ruud van Nistelrooy is the default centre-forward. But even at times of injury to one or the other, Javier's chances have been limited.

This may be because Saviola's style is different enough to Ruud's so as not to mark him out as an identical replacement. He is of considerably more pace, and although he shares with the Dutchman a keen sense of anticipation, it manifests itself differently. With Schuster unwilling to tinker with the 4-4-2, Saviola doesn't fit in; even the 4-3-3 against Murcia saw Raúl in the middle with Robinho and Robben in support.

If he stays at Madrid, it's hard to see things changing in this respect, even allowing for tactical adjustments. While much of what's circulating at the moment is mere paper talk, it's exceedingly likely that at least one striker - or at the very least a deep-lying playmaker - will arrive in Chamartín over the summer. If one does, he'll almost certainly be "Schuster's man", meaning that Saviola will be pushed even further down the pecking order: not ostracised per se, but certainly someone who puts the 'squad' in 'squad player.'

Saviola, unlike, say, Arjen Robben, is the type to accept such a situation. He certainly wouldn't cry about it in the media, and he may not request a transfer, either. He may have been styled 'the rabbit' for his pace and agility, but his non-confrontational, acquiescent, almost timid nature would see the analogy taken a step further.

Thus, it might be time for el conejo to hit the road.

Only The Loan-ly

One possible solution could be a loan move. Javi's no stranger to these: while his Barcelona friends enjoyed their miraculous double season of 2005-06, the rabbit was busy making waves in Andalucía, where he helped Sevilla to the UEFA Cup. Prior to that, of course, he managed a respectable goal haul in Ligue 1 with AS Monaco.

It seems that he's willing to go where the wind takes him, and certainly if he was put up for a temporary deal there would be no shortage of clubs eager to take him. Look at the case of Antonio Cassano: he was a disappointing arrival at Madrid, yet Sampdoria fell over themselves to land him, and they were duly rewarded.

However, Saviola's situation differs in some key ways. Firstly, he's not a problem child like Antonio was: he will work hard in training and sit on the bench until the cows come home. Second - and this follows on from the first - he's not "damaged goods" - it's easy to see someone paying for him, even though Madrid got him for nothing.

As such, even if the player's up for it, the club might have their eyes on the big sell.

Top Of The Pile

This seems to be the most likely scenario. Saviola is under contract until 2011, and it's hard to see him being a regular fixture in the Liga up until then. Who comes in for him, though, is open to question.

Sevilla, who may lose Luis Fabiano, would almost surely welcome him back, but whether he'd wish to go there is another matter entirely, as is whether or not they can afford him. Valencia will surely not splash out on him, Villarreal likewise, and it's hard to see who else could attract him. Italy is an option, as is France at an outside bet, but there are no clear candidates.

Maybe the answer lies in England, where the likes of Manchester City and Newcastle have not only a thirst for big names, but the financial wherewithal to match such ambitions. With a striker like Saviola, both would lay claim to having a continental-class frontman leading the line.

Even the lower reaches of the Premier League could suit him down to a tee. With keen anticipation and great pace, Saviola could easily fit into a kick-and-rush system, even if he's used to something a bit more civilised. And for the English clubs with a pretence of playing more continental-style football - and there are more than a few of them - Saviola would add both flair and a proven track record to the mix.

What's more, he'd be one of the biggest names at well over half the Premier League sides in a way that he hasn't been on club level since his loan days. This would also apply in the Liga and Serie A, even though it seems a distant memory now. At Madrid and Barça he merely gets lost in the shuffle, and his gameplay and personality see to it that he can all too often be forgotten. Maybe he just needs time at a club where he's one of the big things - something that, I'd say, he deserves to be. Be it at a mid-tier Spanish club, an Italian side, or an English one, he's got a lot to offer, and he won't show it on the bench.


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