According to Sky Italia, Chelsea are set to sign Brazilian defender Maicon from Inter Milan as he looks to leave the San Siro and the Blues seek to replace the outgoing Jose Bosingwa.
The right-back will be turning 31 near the end of July but you would think he has a few years left in him and Chelsea definitely need a new player for that position as you cannot rely on one man (Branislav Ivanovic) alone all season, whilst the likes of Paulo Ferreira isn’t good enough to challenge the starting right-back and will likely be offloaded to make room for squad places. Then there’s the likes of Todd Kane, who needs to go out and play first team football in a similar way to Ryan Bertrand before he finally earned his way into the first team reckoning.
Unless you’re a regular follower of Serie A, you’re most lasting memory of Maicon would be his performance against Tottenham a few seasons ago when he was taken apart by Planet of the Apes star Gareth Bale, which has led many to doubt his credentials and it would seem as though most fans would prefer a younger player, like Eden Hazard’s former team-mate Mathieu Debuchy, who was already attracting the attention of a few clubs before the Euros.
I haven’t seen enough of Maicon in recent seasons to accurately rate him or write him off, but he is experienced and was considered one of the best right-backs in the world whilst Jose Mourinho was in charge. Of course, he looked completely useless during Rafa Benitez’s tenure when Inter played Spurs, but all their players looked terrible under the Spaniard.
For me, I’m not against the signing if the price is right and he pulls his weight. But, like most of you, I would prefer it if we signed a younger option.
There’s currently a dearth of right-backs that are good on both sides of the ball as Ashley Cole is on the left, but who would you like us to sign to challenge Ivanovic for his place?
Chelsea need a top class right back as Ivanovic is a central
Defender and not a full back.Maicon would be a big improvement on Ivanovic as he is a specialist in the position
and is terrific at overlapping.Age is of course against him,but
he might be ideal for a few seasons until we can see if Todd Kane will be up to the task,by then.
Debuchey the French right back was really good at the euros get him he would be great and surely not to expensive
maicon is 2 old 4 chelsea,why nt go 4 anoda full back defender.
Why would Chelsea go for a 30 yr old when they are trying go younger? Makes no sense; I can’t see it happening.
Nathenial clyne or debuchy plz… Maicon not gud enuf !!! Actually v want an urderstudy fr ivanovic whu has bn fantastic fr us in dat position & also is gud at set pieces so clyne wud b better !!! If nt den vdw or debuchy !!!
I really like Maicon and think he is one of the best right backs in the game. However, i think that at his age and the price that we would have to pay would be to high. I personally really like Ivan as right back. He doesn’t get forward as much as some Rb do but he is a defensive rock. He also is a big threat in the air.
I’d personally like to see our back like w/ Ivan as our starting right back. so i think we should try and find a younger and cheaper player as cover.
i think maicon has a lot of experience and he is a natural right back so it will help us. Age isn’t a problem here because players like todd keane and hutinchson are growing to take up such roles in future time. The brazilians are very gud materials as far as football is concerned.
I do not understand people who think that Ivanovich is NOT a RB? He plays at both RB and central defender. IMHO he is a better right back than he is a central defender. If we buy a new RB I can see Ivanovich (who is excellent in that position) putting in for a transfer next term as he is definately behind JT, Cahill and Luiz in the pecking order as a central defender. Chelsea should keep their powder dry and use any funds toward bringing in ‘back-up for Torres which we desperately need at the moment. 19 year old Billy Clifford, Sam Hutchinson and Nathanial Chilobah can ALL cover this position as could first team players like Essien, Ramires and Luiz if necessary in an emergency. Ivanovich is an excellent RB as both a defender and offers a great attacking option when going forward or at corners and free kicks.