One must respect Fabio Borini's sheer doggedness to make his fledgling Anfield career work despite the limited opportunities that he will surely be afforded this season, but try telling that to any Sunderland or QPR supporters. Having built up a stellar reputation he had built up on Wearside during his loan stint with the Mackems last term, the 23 year old Italian striker went about infuriating those same supporters by seemingly leading them on a wild goose chase for his signature in a prolonged 47-day transfer saga. Unperturbed by Gus Poyet's growing frustrations, Redknapp decided to stick his nose in on transfer deadline day in typical 'Arry fashion. With the Hoops having a £10 million bid accepted by the Merseysiders, Sunderland supporters worst nightmares looked like they were about to be realised. Had QPR been the ones to finalise Borini's signature within mere hours of registering an interest, when Sunderland had agreed a £14 million fee six weeks earlier, there would surely have been riots at the Stadium of Light. It wasn't to be, however, as Borini stuck to his principles, determined to fight for his place with the Reds, despite the recent signing of Mario Balotelli in a £16 million transfer from AC Milan. QPR have since claimed that they were priced out of a move for the Italian, with sources reporting that the former Chelsea hitman was looking for skywards of £90k p/wk.
''I think players' expectations, agents' expectations, people have to be a bit realistic. We are not going to be silly about we what we do.'' - QPR owner Tony Fernandes, September 2014.
Recent Journalism & New Media graduate. Insatiable thirst for all things football, and hopes to break into the field of sports journalism in the near future.
Have made a significantly insignificant playing career out of receiving several slaps around the head for not passing the ball.
