Exodus

It has started. Those players who decide to timidly toe the line of political correctness and not say what they really think have already been shown up for intellectual dishonesty. Perhaps they wouldn't term it quite like that, but lying sounds a little harsh.

When clubs enter a crisis, there is always talk of a clear out. Players tend to resist this kind of speculation and defend their teammates in case the subject of their criticism ends up not being sold and then all of a sudden the two half to spend the next six months in the same dressing room.

All the same, if ever there was time for a clear out, it is now. And whether Raúl and company think it should happen or not, it's happening.

Exactly 11 years after he scored the winning goal in the Champions League final, putting Real Madrid back on the European map with the club winning their 7th European Cup, and first in nearly 30 years, Pedja 'Mafioso' Mijatovic has left the club. 

Mijatovic always pointed to the fact that under his leadership the club won two league titles, one spanish supercup, and has finished second this year. Not bad for three years work he says. Very bad say over half of Marca's online voters, who gave Mijatovic's stewardship the big thumbs down.

Perhaps his record wouldn't be 'bad' for Valencia. Or Atlético. But the 290 million euros he spent should have produced a squad that was amongst the finest in Europe. Real Madrid don't have the finest squad in Spain, and are nowhere near having it. To sum up Mijatovic as Sporting Director at Real Madrid, two players suffice. Javier Saviola and Robinho. Need we say more? Actually, yes. He had a year left on his contract. What're the chances he's left with a nice juicy payoff? High. 

Change at the top was always expected as the institutional upheaval takes casualities, but the playing staff will also be affected. Emerson, thankfully, left a long time ago, but he was the first player to arrive, along with Fabio Cannavaro. Il Bello is now leaving. 23 yellow cards and three reds later, not to mention a faded reputation (he arrived as the BEST PLAYER IN THE WORLD) Cannavaro is retuning to the club that he was quick to leave after it became clear that the corruption scandal would send down to the second division. How will the Juventus fans welcome him back?

Farewell Pedja and Fabio, it's been emotional.