Swans were keener on a permanent deal but all the talk is still of a loan with a view to a transfer
Italian media are now reporting Michu to Napoli could well be announced within the next twenty-four hours. True or not? Hard to say, but momentum seems to be gathering and I wouldn't be surprised if we bid goodbye to the languid powderkeg of a striker within the next day or two.
If this comes off, he'll have done spectacularly well for himself. A player who cost £2million two years ago, he did have a fantastic first season but football is a cruel mistress and as the old saying goes "you're only as good as your last game". Even if you gave him some slack and judged Michu on his last ten, you'd still struggle to pitch him as an attractive proposition to most clubs, so for him to have seemingly secured a move to a club playing in the Champions League this season is a pretty amazing piece of wheeling and dealing on his agent's part.
Whether he performs to a degree which inspires Napoli to make the move permanent is another thing. Given his injury record and age he'd have to seriously impress, though he has shown his class on multiple occasions. Yesterday I wrote a piece about the importance of psychological support within football (link), and the difference it can make in a player. Michu, to me at least, seems a great example of this, as his attitude on the field was disappointing at best (and questionable at worst) in a few performances towards the end of last season. Keep him happy, and you'll definitely get the best out of Miguel Perez Cuesta.
If it sounds like I'm being harsh on Michu, well...I've hardly been his biggest fan going back to the middle of the season before last. Ok, I liked his goals and ok, his hair flopped around brilliantly, but I never felt this negated what I considered a negative influence on the team tactically. I've always maintained that you should play as a team, and to a degree we pandered to Michu for a while, in the hope his goalscoring touch would return. This was perfectly natural, and he deserved a prolonged run in the team in order that he once again found his form, but it seems we're now cutting our losses and allowing him to join Napoli on loan.
In doing so we halve our future liability in terms of his wages, plus hopefully he does light up Serie A. Napoli's other backup option is Goran Pandev who is most definitely not getting younger, and if Michu can stay fit and motivated he could well have a part to play for Napoli this season. If he impresses, then a) we could always bring him back into the fold here and b) his value will definitely be a lot closer to the £10million the Swans were reporting to be chasing for him.
My only worry is that if he bombs in Italy, or if his injury problems continue, we'll then have a player who's almost unplayable (in the bad way) who we won't be able to shift for love nor money. It appears though that it's a risk the Swans are willing to take.