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The curious case of Ever Banega

We’re entering the final stretch of what has to be the worst January transfer window of all time and that’s saying something, as I once saw my side sign Ryan Nelson and Louis Saha during this month. It’s been a very cagey affair, perhaps in part due to so many teams overachieving and thus being unwilling to let their star players go at a crucial period. It’s admirable and indicative of the ever-growing competitiveness seen in Spain, much like that which already exists in England.

Arguably one of the biggest names that keeps cropping up and has done so for the past 6-12 months is that of Sevilla’s Ever Banega. The Argentine has just six months to run on his current deal but isn’t quite free to talk with other clubs yet – more on that later. Banega has always been someone who likes to keep his cards blow to his chest and won’t be rushed into making a decision, more so while knowing increased speculation strengthens his own hand.

The player himself is quite the conundrum. During his time at Valencia you saw the very best and worst of him, not only on the pitch but off it too. He garnered a reputation around the city as someone who loved the playboy lifestyle football can offer, not one to shy away from the limelight or attention.

One of the most curious things about Banega is his chequered history with cars. Not long after signing for Valencia he failed a routine breath test, pocketing a fine for his troubles. Then he forgot to leave the handbrake on at a petrol station and was subsequently run over by his own car. You’d laugh if he didn’t end up breaking his leg in two places and thus missed six months of football because of it. It doesn’t stop there though as his Ferrari randomly set itself on fire just outside Valencia’s training ground, the cause of which was never explained.

He left Valencia in a much low-key fashion, sliding out of the back door after spending the previous six months in Argentina playing for Newell’s Old Boys. He had lost that drive to compete, to fight for his place and instead wanted to be closer to his family. No one was willing to make an offer to sign the out-of-favour central midfielder on a permanent basis so he asked Los Che to personally make a loan move back home a priority, to be alongside his loved ones. They duly obliged.

“I spoke with Lionel (Messi) and he told me he was happy [there], said a visibly happy Banega during his presentation as a Newell’s player. “I want to return all the love and support I’ve received out on the pitch. I’m playing for the club I support.” Perhaps it was going back home that reinvigorated the former terrace favourite at Valencia but he put on some wonderful displays in South America. He enjoyed being out on the pitch again.

After his loan move had ended, with Newell’s unable to afford the fixed €12m agreed price, he returned to Valencia to find a new manager at the helm: Nuno Espirito Santos. Initial impressions were positive under Nuno but it gradually became clear he had no future at the club. Banega asked to be released from his contract so he could join Newell’s again but Valencia rejected that out of hand. The player himself insinuated that he’d happily sit out the rest of his contract if the club refused to release him.

Enter Sevilla and more importantly, Monchi. Sevilla’s director of football had seen the transformation in Banega during his time in Argentina and took advantage of Valencia’s predicament, which was lose him on a free or sell him on the cheap. Feeling they had replaced him with their summer spending, Valencia bid adios to the temperamental playmaker and thought nothing of it.

However their loss quickly became Sevilla’s gain. The Ever Banega that sulked his way through the end of his spell at Valencia had disappeared and the one, which had initially won the hearts of the Mestalla, was now delighting the Sanchez Pizjuan faithful instead. At just €2.5m, he has to be one of Monchi’s best ever signings – and that’s saying something!

Ever Banega has all the ability most footballers dream of, with the only question mark surrounding the man being his attitude. For those of you old school WWF viewers, think of him as Shawn Michaels with that ever increasing worry he might lose his ‘smile’ at any given moment.

“I have a contract with Sevilla and my main priority is to stay here,” he said back in March of last year. Since then there has been next to no updates on the current negotiations. This has created a host of interested parties with some football fans surprised no one has attempted to sign him on a pre-contract agreement. However, there might be a valid reason for that.

There’s a belief in Sevilla that a clause was inserted into the 2-year deal he signed with the club back in 2014, one which would trigger at automatic extension of an additional year if he played a set amount of matches per season. Apparently that magic number of games, although not confirmed officially by either the club or the player, is 30 – he’s featured in 23 so far. This probably explains why Sevilla aren’t worried about losing the player now, but the summer is another story.

His displays have naturally stirred up interest from bigger and richer sides than Sevilla. Despite a rocky start that included an early exit from the Champions League, and not helped by Banega himself suffering from a knee injury, the club has found form in recent weeks to claw themselves back into contention for a Top Four spot. Unai Emery has done his best to protect his key asset, choosing to rest him for some away matches this season.

According to Fran Montes de Oca, a local journalist for ABC Sevilla’s “Orgullo de Nervión”, the club are optimistic the midfield maestro will stay until at least the summer. “I believe he’ll sign a new contract. He’s happy here. Sevilla will increase his wages and possibly include a release clause, so the club gets a fair price if Banega does decide to leave.”

All signs point to this being the most likely scenario but, as has been seen in the past, nothing is ever quite straightforward with Ever Banega. He’s aware of how high his stock is right now and with the club currently outside of the Champions League places, he could use that as an excuse to move on. However a bumper deal with an attainable - for the calibre of clubs interested in him - buyout clause suits everyone. It’ll allow Banega the security to carry on at Sevilla during his peak years if he so wishes, but assures the club they’d get a fair fee if not.

There’s no doubt the Ever Banega we see sat behind the main striker at Sevilla, threading pinpoint passes into the wingers and front man, could improve any number of sides in Europe. For his size he’s deceptively strong, able to muscle away from the shackles of the opposing team’s defensive midfielder tasked with stopping him. This year has seen him show more composure in front of goal, scoring double the goals (6) he managed in the whole of last season (3).

The underlying feeling is that any move for Banega should be considered a risk. He needs to feel comfortable, on and off the field, in a potential new environment which isn’t easy for someone who often dreams of returning to Argentina. Then you need to look at the knee injury he suffered earlier this season, one he’s still yet to fully recover from. Although what big money transfer can ever truly be considered a sure thing?

The interest in Banega will remain this summer and he’ll have a big decision to make: stick or twist. The money on offer from abroad will be a lot more than what’s currently on the table from Sevilla but he’ll be wise to remember that the grass isn’t always greener on the other side.