Barcelona and Real Madrid, the great rivals, fire and water, chalk and cheese, Catalunya and Castilla - yes, yes, we've heard it all before. The pair's histories and cultures could scarcely be more different in a Spanish context, and their emnity hardly fiercer, but when push turns to shove both are multi-million euro operations who operate in the bland, sanitised, corporate world of World Football. The differences pale in comparison to the commonalities.
Yet there remain a few contrasts between the clubs, and what we've seen in recent weeks is one in which Barça appear to have the upper hand. That is the conduct of the summer transfer window, and it may be that Barcelona's woeful 2008 so far has got a little bit better today - and Madrid's a great deal worse.
Eto'o Stays
If you think back to Pep Guardiola's appointment on June 21st, one of his first orders of business was to name Samuel Eto'o as one of the "Axis of Evil" (my words, not his) alongside the shadowy figures of Deco and Ronaldinho. That seemed to be pretty much that, and as the Portuguese and the Brazilian were sent out the door it was likely that Eto'o would follow.
In fact, though, he did not. True, he was linked with moves elsewhere - Milan's interest was thought to be especially concrete - but no bids came. Eto'o, unhappy with the club, flirted with a move to Uzbekistan - how seriously, we may never know - before reporting back with the others for pre-season training.
And here, the strangest thing happened. Eto'o, well known for his mercurial character and often selfish manner, became one of the stars. In training he worked with exemplary diligence; in matches he was on fire. (That's not to say he ever stopped scoring: as I point out seemingly once a week or more, he had the best goals:minutes ratio of all forwards in the Primera last season.) Eto'o, far from being a lingering, awkward presence, was a revelation.
As such Pep was (I surmise) immediately turned around. Why would he get rid of this prolific forward with a hunger for the game? He couldn't say as much without the president and sporting director agreeing; Joan Laporta gamely said that he was up for it; Txiki, meanwhile, took a while to come around, but eventually he gave his assent. Now Eto'o is staying: both manager and player want it.
Two things are notable here. First, Barcelona have been largely honest throughout the whole ordeal. They announced early that Eto'o was going; then they admitted that they were wavering; and now he's staying. The second is that Eto'o, while no doubt annoyed with how the summer went on, probably benefitted from such clear thinking.
Let's compare and contrast.
Robinho Goes?
Robinho. The jewel of the first half of Madrid's season found himself in dire straits by the end. Allegations of partying too hearty seemed to be borne out by a series of deteriorating performances, and he limped over the finish line while the rest of his teammates sprinted.
No matter. He was under long-term contract at the club and had been touted as part of the new-look, determined, young, hungry Merengue outfit that was to dominate long-term. Thus his infraction could be forgiven, his attitude worked on, and a new-look, slim-line Robinho may be ready to lead the line next season.
Well, almost. Real Madrid president Ramón Calderón, preoccupied by his chase for Cristiano Ronaldo, unwittingly stumbled into drama as Robinho and his agent grew uncomfortable with the transfer rumours. Ronaldo would, of course, take up an unshakable berth in the first team: that may have discouraged the player, but anyone unwilling to compete for their starting place is perhaps the one at fault.
But that wasn't the issue. Instead it was the fact that Madrid were rumoured to be using Robinho as a makeweight in a part-exhcange for Cristiano. For the likes of Robinho this is anathema: a man whose self-confessed goal is to be the best as the world being treated as a bargaining chip... well, you can imagine his reaction.
It's since transpired that Madrid made only one official offer for Ronaldo, and that did not include Robinho. But all the while that talk circulated over €60m-plus-Robinho offers or other such huge bids, Madrid said nary a peep about the Brazilian being regarded as such. Calderón did venture once - just once - in July that Robinho was integral to the side, but other than that mentions of Robinho were muted and few.
Combine with this the fact that Robinho was held back from the Olympics due to an "injury" that in his words never was and you have an unhappy player who may yet leave. After all, Chelsea's interest in him is public, their ambitions are huge, and they would surely make him feel welcome. He is probably still unhappy with his paymasters because of the Olympics - remember when he was told of his being kept back, he cried, at least according to his agent. And there are still weeks left to go in the window...
Madrid, then, reached for Ronaldo and knocked Robinho off the shelf in doing so. Through a lack of tact in the media - and in the boardroom - they alienated one of their star assets. And by keeping him off the Olympic squad for what he regards as dishonest seasons, they cemented his resentment. Unlike Barcelona they didn't transfer-list him... and unlike Barcelona, they made him wish to leave!
Compromise
Of course it needs to be said that Madrid, despite failing to land Ronaldo, have still had a good summer. After all, their squad was far and away Spain's best last season and thus needed relatively little elaboration; in Rubén de la Red and Rafael van der Vaart they have a pair of fine midfield reinforcements, and if Calderón emerges to sign the cheque then perhaps Pedja Mijatovic's search for a striker will bear fruit.
In the meantime, though, Barcelona have secured something of a coup, while Madrid and Robinho have some compromise to seek and some making up to do. Until such a time as they do so publicly, Robinho's future remains uncertain in the eyes of many fans, and that's a major PR own-goal for the blanco hierarchy. Hell mend them.