Saviola aims to reinvigorate a floundering career as he swaps Barcelona for Madrid

At 19, Javier Saviola was touted as a future world player of the year and the Argentine looked equipped to generate a storm in Europe. ‘El Conejo’ was seemingly destined to numerous La Liga crowns with Barcelona and even success in the Champions League along with leading the front line for his country in their ongoing quest for World Cup glory.

Saviola avoided the usual perils South American imports endure by almost immediately settling in and scoring an impressive 21 goals in his opening campaign including a notable four in seven Champions League starts. Barcelona could only finish fourth though and Saviola’s first season proved to be foretelling of how his time in northern Spain would eventually be assessed. In subsequent seasons, the diminutive striker netted 20 and 17 times, yet no major silverware was won and from 2004 to 2006, he was sent away on loan as Frank Rijkaard’s revolution began to pay dividends – consecutive La Liga titles and victory over Arsenal to win Europe’s greatest prize.

The latest Real Madrid signing did pick up a Uefa Cup medal with Sevilla in the 2005/6 season, scoring five goals in seven competition starts but his success was tainted as parent club Barcelona won in Paris to lift the cup with big ears just a week later. It was expected any upturn in fortunes for ‘Los Culés’ would be triggered by the once prominent Saviola, and that he – not Eto’o – would score in a Champions League final to hand the side who paid £19m for his services victory.

Some see the move as the 25-year-old raising two fingers to the side that froze him out, but the forward says he is not a traitor

Buenos Aires-born Saviola has had no shortage of offers from Europe’s biggest clubs since announcing he would not sign a new contract at the Camp Nou but he ultimately opted for their archrivals from Madrid. It will ensure plenty of jeering next season when the two meet in Catalonia despite Saviola’s minor role at the club over the last three years and though some see it as the 25-year-old raising two fingers to the side that froze him out, the forward claims, “I don’t feel like a traitor. There is a great rivalry between the clubs but at a personal level my old and new colleagues and many Barça fans have all been very good to me. The past is in the past and I just want to play football.”

Due to his emergence when only a teenager, Saviola still has ample time to pick up the trophies he seemed destined to win after scoring 44 times in 86 matches for River Plate, and Real Madrid appear ready to fulfil his objectives having already brought in Christoph Metzelder and Pepe. Bernd Schuster has secured a coup in bringing Saviola to the Bernabéu for nothing, and the competition for a starting place in the front line is extremely strong. Ruud van Nistelrooy, Raúl, Gonzalo Higuain and Roberto Soldado are also vying for one of the two positions as Real attempt to turn their back on the dire football witnessed under previous coach Fabio Capello.

Saviola understands all of his genius must be exhibited if he is to lead Madrid’s attack, “It isn’t easy at clubs like Real or Barca but there will be healthy competition and I am sure I will have opportunities.” He and Schuster will be under the microscope next season but there would be a delicious irony if the pair of old Barcelona players, who have both been criticised by their former employer recently, were to shine and outdo the ‘Blaugranes’ in what promises to be an intense and cut-throat La Liga campaign.

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