Can Wisla Krakow Really Be Interested In Patrick Kluivert?

In what may be the biggest transfer rumour in the history of the Polish league Wisla Krakow is reported to be interested in Patrick Kluivert. Before you check your eyesight and doubt your reading abilities (or wonder if the drugs you took yesterday still work); this piece of news is manufacured by Przeglad Sportowy and an Wisla official is yet to confirm it.

This is how you make news in Poland today: you check which players will be available on a free transfer in the summer, choose the most famous name and link it with the best Polish club. Then you phone the player’s agent who won’t, of course, reject your ‘virtual’ offer (especially if his client is way past his best) and ask the club’s coach for an opinion. Now, Wisla’s coach, Maciej Skorza, won’t say that Kluivert is a has been who hasn’t managed to play regularly for three years now because a player of such calibre has never played for a Polish club. He’ll say that Kluivert is a great striker, an ideal candidate for a place in Wisla’s attack. You write it all down and give a headline that reads ‘Will Patrick Kluivert Join Wisla Krakow?’. That’s all, you’ve just invented information that will spread across the country with a speed of light.

I can’t argue that it’s an interesting perspective; to watch one of the best players of the past decade in a Polish club’s colours. Hey, I’d attend a game only to watch him warm up. But the dream is fast violated when you realize that there is no official statement on the part of Wisla regarding Kluivert. If Skorza were asked about any other famous player he’d also say that it’s a perfect option for Wisla, what does he have to lose? If I phoned Kluivert’s agent on behalf of Lech Poznan he also wouldn’t have ruled out my offer. Such speculation is good for a pub debate or a blog but not for a formerly respected national newspaper.

The only thing that’s right about this article is that Wisla are really looking for a tall, powerful striker. A name of Victor Agali from Hansa Rostock was brought up by the press some time ago (a more possible choice in my opinion). The need for a big striker is even more obvious after we learn that Wisla won’t probably extend Radoslaw Matusiak’s loan deal from Heerenveen. The player doesn’t want to be loaned out for the second time as he would find it hard to fight for a place in Heerenveen’s squad when he comes back in the winter; he prefers to take part in the team’s summer camp. Moreover, Wisla can’t afford to buy Radomatu as the Dutch value him at 2M. It turns out that the whole loan deal was unnecessary in the first place and Matusiak won’t get much playing time in the remaining games of the season (Skorza wants to play Niedzielan). Not a bright move on Wisla’s side, I just hope it won’t affect Matusiak’s Euro form to a large extend.

Oh, and if Wisla finally signs Patrick Kluivert I’ll restore my belief in the professionalism of Przeglad Sportowy. I very much hope I’ll be given an opportunity to do that.