What if rival players swapped teams?

Think Lionel Messi and you see blue and red. Think Cristiano Ronaldo and you see a pearly white. That’s how it has been for a while now, and that’s how it will be for the foreseeable future.What would happen, then, if we were to go ahead, defy the status quo, and along with it the laws of logic, and change that future – in the present?The players, you see, are merely professionals doing a job – as much as some fans would like to think otherwise. Imagine then, if you will, two of these star players swapping teams. How would they fare individually? What would the effect be on the playing style and formations of their respective teams?Here is a conjecture of six such possibilities, and their likely consequences.Note  – “Conjecture” – as defined by the Oxford Dictionary – to form an opinion or supposition about (something) on the basis of incomplete information. No one knows exactly what could happen in such scenarios, so it would be wise to take all of this with a pinch of salt.

#1 Luis Suarez and Diego Costa

Suarez with Chelsea

Tireless, stubborn and utterly committed, Luis Suarez is the embodiment of all the qualities that Jose Mourinho loves in his footballers. While having the Uruguayan in his team would deprive Mourinho of the type of physical spearhead (read, Didier Drogba) he so craves for, his qualities as a footballer would ingratiate him to the Special One like no other.

Suarez would add a whole new dimension to Chelsea’s attack – they can retain the 4-2-3-1, and with the winged feet of Eden Hazard and Juan Cuadrado/Willian flanking him, and Oscar/Cesc Fabregas feeding him pass after magical pass, the man from Salto would love it in West London.

Besides, as he has shown in his time with Anfield, he is perfectly capable of dominating any defence the Premier League can throw at him.

Costa with Barcelona

Gruff, strong on the ball and off it, an ideal target man – almost tailor made for a windy Tuesday night in Stoke – Diego Costa is as anti-Spanish a footballer as they come.

This has been starkly evident (in the admittedly short time he has had) with the Spanish national team, for whom Costa has looked about as comfortable as Eoin Morgan has Down Under this cricketing season.

While Barça wouldn’t have to change their stock formation of 4-3-3 (or Luis Enrique’s new-fangled 4-3-1-2) to accommodate him, he would offer them a lot less fluidity and flexibility within that front trio. Barça’s lack of reliance on crossing and traditionally poor set-piece play may mean that Costa would find himself in a position where he is not quite as pivotal to the game-plan as the last time he played for a team in La Liga.

Then again, with the ever-changing scenario at the Nou Camp, a bit of good old-fashioned spite and bite might just be what the Blaugrana need.

Who would do better?

Suarez with Chelsea. If Branislav Ivanovic doesn’t kill him, that is.