Arda Turan - A Smart Buy Or A Panic Buy?

Arda Turan yesterday completed his move to Barcelona from Atletico de Madrid for 34 million euros. This was very shocking though, because he was heavily linked to the Premier league clubs Chelsea and Manchester United more than Barcelona. Arda Turan who has been very successful for Atletico de Madrid, he has played for 4 seasons scoring 13 goals and assisting goals 18 times. Well stats don't tell the whole story, he's been Atletico de Madrid's second best player if not the best, over past few seasons. His sheer passion, aggression and commitment on the pitch makes him a totally different player from what stats show.

However Barcelona couldn't register Arda Turan as Barcelona player because of the ongoing transfer ban imposed on them by FIFA in 2014. They can't register Arda Turan till the ban ends i.e Jan of 2016, that means Turan can train with the team but can't play for them till January.

There's an very unusual Clause inserted in Arda Turan's Transfer, since Barcelona are in midst of presidential election, this transfer becomes very complicated. Whoever wins the presidential election on 18th of July can sell Arda Turan back to Atletico de Madrid at 10% less of the fixed transfer fee within next two days of becoming president. Which means Barcelona will get 30.6 millions euros back if they sell Arda Turan back to Atletico.

Is Arda Turan a Smart buy or a panic buy?

Arda Turan is an attacking midfielder and can linkup very well with the players. At Atletico de Madrid he used to drift to the left wing and Antoine Griezmann who starts the match as left winger, drifts more centrally. He and Koke used to adrift to left and right wing respectively, making way for Griezmann and Mandzukic in the center. 

In Barcelona's setup Neymar drifts to center from the left wing, and Iniesta drifts to the left wing. Since Iniesta is 31 already, they have bought Arda Turan to replace him, who fits in perfectly in Iniesta's role. 

Hence Arda Turan to Barcelona is a smart move. If the new selected president sells him back to Atletico then they will be making a big mistake.