by Mirage on Tue Jun 26, 2007 9:53 pm
Some background on Sosa:
Bayern dug deep into their pockets this time; so far, they signed nine players to replace the six that left the club. One of the new signings is José Ernesto Sosa, a 22-year-old Argentine. His transfer was announced at the beginning of March, after he passed his medical test.
Name: José Ernesto Sosa
Nickname: El Principito ("The Little Prince")
Date of Birth: June 19th, 1985
Place of birth: Carcarañá, Santa Fe, Argentina
Height: 1,79 m
Positions: right midfield, centre midfield, left midfield
Club of Origin: Estudiantes de La Plata
Sosa participated in Estudiantes' youth programme and made it into the A team in 2002. In 2006, he won the league (the apertura - the Argentinean league determines two champions every year) with his club, the first one since 1983, and Sosa played a major role in the victory. In the final against Boca Juniors, this brilliantly delivered free kick by Sosa was the decisive goal of the match:
After this, quite a lot of clubs wooed Sosa (FC Valencia, Juventus Turin, Atlético Madrid, Bayern München), but Estudiantes' president Abadie announced a transfer stop until June because he wanted to win the Copa Libertadores (South American Champions League) with a complete squad. According to rumours, Bayern was promised first purchase rights for summer 2007.
Sosa scored eleven goals in 105 matches for Estudiantes. Last season, he played 27 matches, scored four goals and prepared five. Together with the former Inter Milan and Manchester United player Juan Sebastián Verón, he formed a very effective midfield duo.
Some might prophecy Sosa's transfer to turn out a flop, like the transfer of Julio dos Santos in January 2006. Dos Santos, a sensitive and shy young Paraguayan, came from Cerro Porteno for a fee of 2.3 million Euros but hasn't managed his final breakthrough at Bayern so far. During the second half of this season, he was lent to VfL Wolfsburg, where he spent most of the time recovering from a shin and calf bone fracture, and it's quite likely he'll be lent again.
Sosa, however, has the necessary ability and self-confidence to make it. He is a lively, mischievous youngster who likes to snatch the ball away from the stars when a free kick is granted. He is dynamic, quick and intelligent, with a good knowledge of strategy and tactics as well as dribbling. And he'll have the necessary high hopes resting on his shoulders to motivate him.
José Ernesto Sosa signed a contract until 2011 at Bayern.
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I've no clue what to expect from this guy. I predict a flop because I don't think he'll get much chance at Bayern to progress but of course, I'll love to be surprised lol.