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by **Toffeehater** » Tue Jun 16, 2009 11:03 am

Arjen Robben and Ruud van Nistelrooy made available by Real Madrid

• Spanish club has to sell to keep buying galácticos
• Renewed bid for Valencia's David Villa likely

* Sport
* Football
* Real Madrid

Arjen Robben and Ruud van Nistelrooy made available by Real Madrid

• Spanish club has to sell to keep buying galácticos
• Renewed bid for Valencia's David Villa likely

* Buzz up!
* Digg it

* Sid Lowe in Madrid
* The Guardian, Tuesday 16 June 2009
* Article history

Arjen Robben

Real Madrid want to cash in on Arjen Robben. Photograph: Dani Pozo/AFP/Getty Images

Real Madrid have contacted several Premier League clubs with a list of nine players they are keen to offload as they desperately seek to recover some of the £150m they spent on Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka. Arjen Robben and Ruud van Nistelrooy are among those for sale.

A fax has been sent from the Bernabéu that includes the names of the club's Dutch players, as well as the former Manchester United full-back Gabriel Heinze. Robben and Van Nistelrooy are joined by their compatriots Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, Wesley Sneijder, Rafael van der Vaart and Royston Drenthe. The defensive midfielder Mahamadou Diarra and the striker Javier Saviola have also been made available.

Madrid concluded two huge transfers in four days for Kaka and Ronaldo but their new president, Florentino Pérez, is determined to continue spending. He wants to make a renewed bid for David Villa after negotiations broke down at the last minute with Valencia, whose president, Manuel Llorente, is furious at Madrid's approach. Valencia want €45m (£38m) for the striker but Madrid have so far refused to meet the valuation.

That late twist appeared to offer Chelsea and United a glimmer of hope in their pursuit of the Spain international although a Barcelona director has admitted they, too, are in talks with Villa.

Pérez has announced that he had to "do in one year what we would normally do in three" and he is determined to sign a left-back, central defender and central midfielder. Madrid also want to sign a striker and will turn their attention to Diego Forlán should they fail to sign Villa. Although Madrid have appeared to boast limitless resources over the past week, the Spanish club are aware that they have to sell in order to continue buying.

Madrid have set themselves a target of €100m of incoming transfer fees to help fund a total outlay that could reach €300m. That would represent a significant loss on players who cost them more than €160m but the figure still appears optimistic.

The shift in the euro means that a €10m player will now cost an English club about £8.5m, when a little over a year ago the figure was closer to £6m. The vast majority of the players have also seen their value drop at Madrid. Van Nistelrooy is one of the few to have enhanced his reputation but he has been injured for eight months and will be 33 in two weeks' time. He and Huntelaar are among Tottenham's targets.

Although Robben has expressed his desire to stay at the Bernabéu, Madrid are especially determined to sell him because they consider him one of the few players who can command a huge fee, alongside Sneijder, who signed for €25.5m from Ajax in 2007. Robben is not helped by his status as a marquee signing and electoral promise of the former president Ramón Calderón – the only promise he delivered on. Privately, however, Madrid doubt their chances of recovering the €36m he cost from Chelsea.

Madrid remain determined to sell players, even if they do not recuperate their original fees, and would also consider loans. Together, Sneijder, Drenthe, Robben and Van Nistelrooy account for almost €10m a year in wages, while Diarra is on €2.8m, Saviola €2.5m and Heinze €2m.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/footbal....learout

Could be worth a punt on taking snejider on loan and signing up robben and saviola

by **stmichael** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 11:03 am

Apparently Spurs are lookignto sign Robben, Huntelaar and Heinze for £36m.

by **aCe'** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 11:21 am

that would be excellent for spurs if they can manage to convince the trio to come there... could see them pushing for Europe... Redknapp is a very good manager imo and he always seems to get the most out of what he has...
Still think we should be going for Robben (deffo the pick of the bunch) and atleast one other player from that madrid side.. Nistelrooy, Sneijder would be good buys.. Saviola and Huntelaar if hes going for cheap wouldnt be bad calls either

by **tubby** » Thu Jun 18, 2009 10:04 am

Robbens dad was in the Metor quoted as saying there have been no talks with Spurs and there will not be period.

by **Fowler_E7** » Thu Jun 18, 2009 12:04 pm

stmichael wrote:Apparently Spurs are lookignto sign Robben, Huntelaar and Heinze for £36m.

that would be a bargain, however Robben's dad has already rubbished the Spurs rumours. All of those players could find better clubs no problem.

by **simolonge** » Thu Jun 18, 2009 12:07 pm

We have kicked MAdrids :censored:

last season and we are looking at their cast offs ?

Not on your nelly.

by **Bad Bob** » Thu Jun 18, 2009 3:56 pm

simolonge wrote:We have kicked MAdrids last season and we are looking at their cast offs ?

Not on your nelly.

It's an interesting argument. I wonder if you had the same view before we signed the West Ham cast-off, Mascherano, or the Man City cast-off, Riera?

It's perhaps possible that there are several quality players on Madrid's books who would improve our squad significantly despite the fact that they were part of a club that struggled to find cohesion and form last season. That's my feeling anyway.

by **Ciggy** » Thu Jun 18, 2009 4:01 pm

Van Der vaarts mrs has cancer she is very ill at the momment, think he will have more on his plate than who his next club is going to be. She is stunning aswell such a shame for a young gorgeus girl.

by **GYBS** » Thu Jun 18, 2009 4:04 pm

That is a big shame ciggy and your right she is very very beautiful - hope she gets well soon .

I would talk Snejder or VDV . Robben not sure as he has brittle bones but can be very destructive on his day .

by **tubby** » Thu Jun 18, 2009 4:25 pm

Yeah any of those 2 would be good. Get on the phone Dirk!

by **NANNY RED** » Thu Jun 18, 2009 9:21 pm

Dont know were top ask this but im watching the u21 England v Spain game at the mo good game an all , Anyway is that Xavi Martinez the lad we awere supposed to be interseted in to replace Xabi if he left, because if he is

by **simolonge** » Thu Jun 18, 2009 10:20 pm

Bad Bob wrote:
simolonge wrote:We have kicked MAdrids last season and we are looking at their cast offs ?

Not on your nelly.

It's an interesting argument. I wonder if you had the same view before we signed the West Ham cast-off, Mascherano, or the Man City cast-off, Riera? It's perhaps possible that there are several quality players on Madrid's books who would improve our squad significantly despite the fact that they were part of a club that struggled to find cohesion and form last season. That's my feeling anyway.

Robert - I am all for improving the squad, but "Swooping for Madrid's cast off's" doesnt sit well with me.

Left back and left midfield and a striker is what we need.

I would take Van Knees-still-sore and either of them little dutchies (Van De Kamp or Snidear.se) IF they can play left mid.

by **Alex G.** » Mon Jun 22, 2009 4:35 pm

Higuain is gonna be one of the best strikers of the world in one - two years, believe me, if we can get him, would be great. He´s awesome.

by **tubby** » Mon Jun 22, 2009 4:59 pm

Would Real even let him go?

by **loopyliverpool** » Mon Jun 22, 2009 9:51 pm

We need a world class winger... Robben fits the bill for me. Think he may cost though and Im not sure we have the money but I would love to see him play for the club.

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