"I don't think he is as good a player as many think. He is also known to be a cancer in the locker room. I'm glad the deal didn't go through."

I, and many other Arsenal fans, believe Hleb was a great player for Arsenal - he would be good enough for most clubs, except the very top like Real Madrid and Barcelona. It's definitely not true that he's a cancer - he wanted to move to Barcelona once he heard they were interested, but that's true of a lot of players, like Henry and Fabregas... he's not exactly Paolo Maldini but then who is?

It's definitely not the money because it's a loan move, so his salary's going to be the same no matter where he goes. Benfica were always going to be a tough sell because he doesn't know Portuguese and the quality of opposition in the league, no offense, is far inferior to the EPL. If Champions League football was a key factor, then he would have gone to Tottenham. I'm sure respect for Arsenal played a part in turning them down, and at Liverpool he wouldn't have gotten a lot of playing time competing against Gerrard, Joe Cole, and Meireles, among others.

I think it was a smart move for Hleb to pick Birmingham. Sure they are a weaker team than the other options but he does have a point. He would have to compete for playing time with other solid players, if not stars if he had opted to go for any of the other teams. For a player who has spent most of his time on the sidelines the past couple of seasons, because of the massive talent at Barcelona, it's normal that he would be concerned about moving to another team where he could again end up being in the same situation. He says he wasn't able to get into a rhythm because of his lack of playing time and that's a definite possibility. Sometimes a player can really benefit from being on a weaker team for a while to build up his confidence by playing regularly as a starter. Hleb did say that he moved to the club that would give him the "best adaptation to the English championship." I don't think that was a euphemism for "I want more money," since I'm sure the other teams after him have more spending power.

The way I see it, he plays at B-Ham for a season or two against really good English competition. If he succeeds, he'll have the chance to move on to a better team. If he were to have had a rocky start with any of the other teams, there is a good chance that he would be replaced as a starter, which would only revert him back to his Barcelona situation. At Birmingham he is guaranteed to start every game. Good choice.

What a loser!

I don't think he is as good a player as many think. He is also known to be a cancer in the locker room. I'm glad the deal didn't go through.