World Football: Winners and Losers After the Transfer Window

The transfer window brings hope for many teams to improve what they lack. For some it is about getting a better defender to reinforce their defense, for others its adding a veteran to lead the team. Whatever the reason may be, the transfer window is very useful.

Yet there are still teams and players who don't do the right thing when it rolls around. Time after time, I've seen struggling teams do nothing when the opportunity came around. Here are the winners and losers following this year's transfer window.

Winner: Wesley Sneijder

The reason Sneijder is a winner after the transfer window is simple. There were at least two big-name English clubs, Manchester City and Manchester United, vying for him. Sneijder even said he was sure of a summer move to Manchester United. His manager said the only reason he didn't move to Manchester City was the arrival of Samir Nasri to City. 

Strangely enough, Sneijder said he received a call from Jose Mourinho, the manager for Real Madrid, telling him he should stay where he is with Inter. Although this advice may have enraged the English giants, Sneijder did stay at Inter. Why move when you are on a team that pays you the right amount, has been doing very well and where you are happy?

A player shouldn't be bribed to move to a different club with money and the guarantee of trophies and victories. 

Loser: The Bundesliga

The Bundesliga has never been the most popular league in Europe. They need all the attention they can get, considering all the amazing players that play in it. Unfortunately, they lost some of the best players who play there. 

Werder Bremen defender, Per Mertesacker, left the Bundesliga on deadline day to complete his move to the Gunners. The center-back is one of the best, if not the best, defenders in all of Germany. He is convinced Arsenal will get back to the top in the near future. 

German champions, Borussia Dortmund, sold midfielder, Nuri Sahin, to Real Madrid during the transfer window. He scored nine goals and made 40 appearances with them last season and led them through an unforgettable season. It is quite a shame he is leaving.

Winner: Manchester City

Manchester City have made some fabulous acquisitions during the transfer window. Samir Nasri, one of the most talked-about players in football right now, has been enthusiastic about playing for his new club. The team was considering moving Carlos Tevez for Sneijder but found using Nasri in the role that Sneijder would have been in to be the better alternative.

They also got another player from Arsenal, Gael Clichy. Clichy will make a great addition to City as a sub or even a starter.

They have gone undefeated so far in the EPL and are poised to overtake Manchester United for the top spot. If they keep playing like they are now, they will not only win the EPL but also have a good shot at doing well in the Champions League. 

Loser: Anzhi Makhachkala

You may be wondering who Anzhi Makhachkala are. Anzhi Makhachkala is the team that bought Samuel Eto'o and is paying him £18 million, making him the highest-paid footballer on the planet. The club was recently bought by billionaire Suleyman Kerimov, who said that he will bring greatness and pride back to Suleyman Kerimov. 

Not only has he paid an enormous amount for the former Inter player, but he has also acquired Brazilian legend Roberto Carlos and Yuri Zhirkov from Chelsea. This may seem like a cheap way to create an amazing football club—buying all of the big-name players from around the world.

The thing is, this strategy just might backfire. Carlos has said he has had to put up with racism since he has joined the club and is very unhappy. Just imagine what Eto'o would do if he was the victim of racism.

If all of the stars are unhappy and leave, Anzhi Makhachkala will go back to what it was before: a no-name club playing in the depths of the Russian league. 

Winner: Cesc Fabregas

Cesc Fabregas has been like a god to Arsenal and its fans for the past few years. While he continued to play for Arsenal while hinting at his departure to Barcelona year after year, he played amazingly. Finally, the Spaniard moved back to his hometown to play for FC Barcelona. 

Not only is he playing with fellow countrymen, but he is also playing for a team that he has always dreamt of playing for. It was extremely wise of him to move because not only do Barcelona consider him one of their best prospects, but they also give him the chance to finally win the trophies he so desperately deserves.

While it may have broken the hearts of Arsenal fans all across North London, true fans will respect his decision and cheer for him wherever he plays. Unless, of course, it is against Arsenal.  

Loser: Arsenal

Arsenal have had one of the most heartbreaking summer transfer windows ever. Not only did captain Cesc Fabregas leave, but midfield talent Samir Nasri left as well.

After these two players left, the Gunners played English powerhouse Manchester United. It was awful.

Manchester United pummeled Arsenal in a horror show, 8-2. Not only does this show how poorly Arsenal is doing, but it also shows how much they relied on the two players to hold the team together.

While they did get Everton captain Mikel Arteta during the transfer window, he is no substitution for Fabregas or Nasri.

Better luck next time, Gunners.

Winner: Arsene Wenger

Arsene Wenger is a winner coming out of the transfer window. Not only did he finally start shelling out money for larger-name players, but he also didn't go running to the cheapest options Arsenal have. It was about time he realized that sometimes you have to spend to get better.

If he had not spent money to acquire Mikel Arteta and Per Mertesacker, there would have been no hope for Arsenal this season. 

This is a very good start for the Arsenal manager. He didn't spend as big as many fans had hoped he would, but it is for sure a great start. A Lyon representative even said Wenger made a bid for French playmaker Yoann Gourcuff.

If he continues to bid on better and bigger players, Arsenal may just become the team it used to be.