by azriahmad » Fri Aug 13, 2004 6:08 pm
Real have got a Spanish manager who clearly values Morrientes and does not want another striker but wants a holding midfielder ala Viera. I think Owen is in for a much tougher time as he has to prove himself to Camacho.
As for Viera, he is considered as the best in the world in his position and unlike Gerrard at this juncture, Viera can also rise to the big occassion as in the Euro 2004. Perhaps Gerrard's inconsistent displays was due to England's tactics and style of play rather than any fault of his own.
What I am trying to say is that Viera was offered a salary at the same level as Roberto Carlos and not on the same level as Zidane, Raul and Beckham and definitely lower than what he gets at Arsenal. Why should he go there on those terms as he is coveted by just about every coach in Europe? I think his salary offer was a lower basic plus performance related bonuses which would take him on par if Madrid were successful, but football is not solely determined by one player. If I were Perez, I would break the bank to get Viera and would pay him as much as the other galacticos.