Bambang to Persib?

This would be like Patrick Vieria, an Arsenal legend, signing for Spurs. Or Rangers signing Jimmy Johnstone. Deals like this just don't happen in football. But stories have been rife over the last couple of weeks that Persib Bandung would sign Persija striker Bambang Pamungkas.

Their coach, Jaya Hartono, has been quoted in the press as saying yes, he would like Bambang. Last week, when Persib travelled to Malaysia to play Selangor, for whom Bambang guested, it was felt that negotiations would take place.

In today's Top Skor Persib fans say they would be happy to see him in their colours. Persija fans of course would be less keen.

So will it happen? Bambang is not the type to go running to the media so much of what has been printed over the last few days is just conjecture. He has in the past described Persija as 'like family' but in an interview with me once was realistic enough to accept that there may come a time when they will no longer want him.

At the end of the day, when night falls, he, like every other family guy, needs to put food on the table and Persija's ongoing nonsense isn't paying the bills no matter how much they say they want him to stay.