10 Players to Watch in World Football for Weekend of September 12-14
Transfer deadline day fell as many of world football's most high-profile players were leaving their clubs to go on international duty.
Some of them, such as Danny Welbeck, Radamel Falcao and Javier Hernandez, ended up securing moves on September 1, and as a result they have yet to debut for their new outfits despite having joined them a week and a half ago.
This installment of Players to Watch includes several players likely to make their club debuts over the weekend and others who, for one reason or another, will attract attention over the next few days.
One of them, for example, is back after a spell on the sidelines through injury; another has taken a self-imposed pay cut.
Following are 10 players to keep an eye on this weekend.
10. Paco Alcacer, Valencia
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Paco Alcacer scored the winner against Malaga in Valencia's second match of the 2014-15 La Liga season and 11 days later found the back of the net for Spain against Macedonia—another match-winning goal.
The 21-year-old is in rude form to start the season and, according to the Express, is being tracked by both Arsenal and Chelsea. Valencia face Espanyol on Sunday.
9. Alexandre Pato, Sao Paulo
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Alexandre Pato just can't stop scoring goals. He bagged a brace the last time out against Botafogo, netted an insurance-marker against Sport on September 7, struck a consolation marker against Criciuma on August 29 and scored the winner against Santos on August 24.
He's playing his best football in years and will be expecting to continue his purple patch when Sao Paulo host champions Cruzeiro on Sunday.
8. Sergio Ramos, Real Madrid
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Sergio Ramos has a knack for coming up big in important games, and it doesn't get much bigger than Saturday's city derby between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid.
It was Ramos, remember, who scored in the 93rd minute of last spring's Champions League final as Real went on to beat Atletico 4-1. Here's guessing he'll play up to the occasion again this weekend.
7. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Borussia Dortmund
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Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang needs to start scoring goals. Plain and simple.
With Marco Reus out injured and Ciro Immobile unlikely to play from the start against Freiburg on Saturday, Borussia Dortmund will need the Gabon international to be at his best at Signal Iduna Park.
Aubameyang is one of the more exciting players in German football, but he hasn't found the back of the net since Dortmund's Super Cup win over Bayern Munich.
6. Javier Hernandez, Real Madrid
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Javier Hernandez's Real Madrid debut could well come in Saturday's derby against Atletico Madrid.
The on-loan Manchester United striker is widely expected to provide cover and competition for Karim Benzema this season, but if Benzema continues to misfire, Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti could well turn to the Mexico international.
5. Fabian Delph, Aston Villa
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Fabian Delph has enjoyed a superb start to the Premier League season with unbeaten Aston Villa, and he also put in an exceptional 90 minutes for England against Switzerland on Monday.
Villa will visit Liverpool in Saturday's late kick-off, and no doubt Delph will be central to whatever the guests can take from Anfield. Incidentally, the 24-year-old is out of contract in the spring and is playing for a new deal as well.
4. Yoann Gourcuff, Lyon
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Lyon midfielder Yoann Gourcuff has agreed a pay cut at Stade Gerland following four difficult seasons at the club, according to ESPNFC.
The 28-year-old, who moved from Bordeaux in 2010, will make 25 percent less than his contract dictates between now and next spring when his current pact expires. Lyon, who were eliminated in the preliminary rounds of the Europa League, are 17th in Ligue 1 after four matches.
3. Marcos Rojo, Manchester United
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Manchester United may have gone on a record-breaking spending spree over the summer, but while the likes of Angel Di Maria and Radamel Falcao were brought into the club to bolster the attack, they did comparatively little to address a shaky defense.
That is, they only bought Marcos Rojo, who operated as a wing-back for Argentina at the 2014 World Cup.
Rojo will likely make his United debut on Sunday against Queens Park Rangers, and it will likely be as a centre-back.
2. Franck Ribery, Bayern Munich
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It's been a bizarre summer for Franck Ribery. Forced to withdraw from France's World Cup squad with a back injury, the Bayern Munich winger then retired from international football and was threatened with a ban by UEFA president Michel Platini if he refused a future call-up to Les Bleus, according to The Guardian.
Ribery, who was named UEFA's Best Player in Europe for the 2012-13 season, will likely see his first action of the season on Saturday when Bayern host Stuttgart.
1. Danny Welbeck, Arsenal
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Danny Welbeck swapped Manchester United for Arsenal on transfer deadline day. A week later he scored both goals in England's 2-0 win away to Switzerland.
Confident and in good form, he could well take his Arsenal bow on Saturday against Manchester City. The 23-year-old's versatility and athleticism would seem to mark him out as the ideal Arsenal forward.
