Ricardo Oliveira is Loaned to Zaragoza

Just saw the news that the Brazilian striker Ricardo Oliveira has been loaned out to Zaragoza for a year. I would like to spend a little time talking about Real Zaragoza. When I think of them, I get reminded of Spurs. A top five side that does not have the high profiles of Valencia, Real Madrid and Barcelona.

But without a doubt a team that boasts a lot of talents. They are used to getting star players that the other teams discard and have done a great job putting everyone into the same team. Aimar is one. Diego Milito and previously Gabriel Milito are two great players in their own right. Andrés D'Alessandro is another top class playmaker that can't get into the Argentina national team because of Riquelme and Messi. Albert Celades played previously for Barcelona and Real Madrid and isn't too bad a defensive midfielder.

Come to think of it, it is a pretty good strategy. Target those players that are good prospects and have been bought at high prices by the big clubs or came through the ranks of the youth academies. But because of the huge competition at such clubs, they find themselves warming the bench most of the time. That is how Zaragoza ends up at its current league position.