Real Madrid - Transfer Talk

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Soldado will be a more exciting move than Saviola.

[Robinho4Ever]

Originally Posted by Mighty T.A.L.

Soldado will be a more exciting move than Saviola.

Soldado is ours. He signed for 5 years, and Sergio Ramos expended his contract for 4 years !!

[Trim]

Originally Posted by Pat Murphy

Cesc rejected a move to Real Madrid so they'll need to find a new CM to get.

Yep..

Could the new CM target be Riquelme?

[Pat Murphy]

Originally Posted by Trim17

Yep..

Could the new CM target be Riquelme?

It could well be Riquelme, Marca seem to think that target no.1 now is Riquelme although there has been no indication of this from Real. They'll have to battle with Atletico for him but considering his world class talent, 10m Euros is a bargain for whoever gets him, the hard part is fitting him into any team as he needs to be specifically catered for.

Next would be Xabi Alonso who Marca think Liverpool could let go for 40m Euros considering they have Sissoko and Mascherano for midfield. Although I still see this as unlikely.

Option 3 is Diego from Werder Bremen, player of the year in Bundesliga I think. He would be a good option in price (15-25m Euros) and could fit well into a 4-2-3-1. Lampard is also a very very distant option. Kaka would be first choice if he becomes available which he won't. Madrid may also have a sniff around Alves and Quaresma apparently.

Either way Madrid are confident they'll get a player to rival Barca's signing of Henry and Schuster has already lined out his must for an attacking CM player.

[barracuda]

Riquelme would be perfext for Real I think, they need a trequartista and can't have Kaka. Signing Reyes permanently would also be important imo.

[unitedfan]

Yep, I'd agree that Riquelme is perfect for Madrid. He is a dream for any team that functions with attacking fullbacks/wingbacks and adventurous wingers - he can set up poacher forwards with imaginative passes and uses the same kind of imagination to strike from far out. He'd be a great maestro - and an added plus for Schuster is that he'd be yet another slap in Barca's face if he did well, which he apparently enjoys.

Well we know Pepe, Metzelder and Saviola have signed. Dudek apparently has, too. Fabregas rejected them, Drenthe and Reyes bids are close to being agreed and they're trying for Robben. Fabregas' rejection would mean they'd be looking for another midfielder - but I'd ask - are mifielder and maestro seperate in this case? For example, are Madrid likely sign a Riquelme and then a Zapater? Or would it just be a Riquelme?

[Pat Murphy]

I think they'd just go for a Riquelme as Schuster outlined Cesc as an attacking midfielder and not a defensive one and although Riquelme and Cesc are definately not similar in style I think Schuster plans on playing either of them in the same type of position.

Ruud works great with a catered servicer and with Riquelme behind him it could be a match made in heaven. The problem I think would be because Riquelme needs defensive players behind him as he doesn't track back. It could be solved with Diarra - Gago behind him but another problem is the wingbacks and wingers as if they start Cicinho then they can get shafted on the counter attack down the wings, but who cares at this point, just look at the team on paper....

------------------- Casillas -------------------
Ramos -- Cannavaro -- Pepe --- Drenthe
--------------Diarra----- Gago ---------
Robinho -------- Riquelme ------- Robben
---------------van Nistelrooy---------------

I have no idea still how the defence would lineup but pick your own there for the most mouthwatering team. I don't think Ramos will play RB. Maybe that 5-2-2-1 Brazil thingy with 3 CB's, attacking wingbacks, 2 DM's and either 2 AM's (Robinho + Riquelme) + 1 striker or 1 AM and 2 strikers.

[barracuda]

Fantastic formation, even if Reyes ends up in the Robben slot. And Metzelder, Emerson and Raul as super-subs

[Trim]

40m for Xabi Alonso? WOW. Definately not worth more than 15m.

As for Diego, I'll guarantee you that he's not leaving Bremen. At least, not this summer.

[barracuda]

Yea, Xabi isn't worth more than 15-20. But I don't see him leaving. Liverpool probably think that they can challange for the title this year (which I don't think they can) and won't sell any major assets.

[unitedfan]

With Gerrard, Mascherano, Sissoko and Alonso all expectant of first team football, Alonso could be sold for something like £14m, surely? Not to mention they've signed Lucas.

Diego, well, Werder aren't likely to let go of another key asset.

Keeping an eye on the Bundesliga - any word on van der Vaart? He's said numerous times he wants a move to Madrid, and is that kind of imaginative AM they could do with. He'd be a good option if all else failed.

[BlackNess]

Fabregas Rejects Madrid, Gunner Stay At Arsenal

Cesc Fabregas has firmly rejected moving to Real Madrid, insisting on Thursday night that: I couldn’t leave Arsenal in the lurch.”

Catalan midfielder Fabregas, 20, has commmitted his future to has manager and mentor, Arsene Wenger, resisting the temptation of a £21.5million move to the Bernabeu after discussions with Wenger on Wednesday.

Fabregas was quoted in The Sun as saying: “I’m very grateful to Real and it is an honour that such a great club is interested in me. But after the departure of Thierry Henry to Barcelona I couldn’t leave Arsenal in the lurch.

“I spoke to Real’s president Ramon Calderon and sport director Pedrag Mijatovic and they are spectacular people.

“It was very satisfying to listen to them as Real Madrid is a great club but I have decided to stay at Arsenal.

“I had a long talk with Wenger. He is someone I can talk to about anything.

“I have total confidence in the boss that he will sign a new deal.

“Wenger believes in this team and has a lot of confidence in the squad.

“I am only 20 and all I have to do is enjoy my football and improve — and I want to do that with this team. I will try to win titles with Arsenal and give my all to Arsene Wenger.

“I will always be grateful to him for giving me my chance.”

Such commitmentis a huge boost - not only toenger but also to Arsenal fans who have endured a summer of speculation about the futures of both men against a background of pundits pronouncing that Arsenal are now a spent force.

Fabregas said he hoped Arsenal would mave a move for Samuel Eto’o from his former club, Barcelona.

He added: “I would try to sign Eto’o — he would be the ideal replacement for Henry. I know it’s difficult, maybe impossible, but it would be the perfect solution.”

[BlackNess]

Madrid Hoping For Cut-Price Drenthe Deal

As reported on Wednesday, Real Madrid are closing in on Royston Drenthe. Now, the Bernabeu club, despite competition from the Dutchman's favoured club of Barcelona, Los Merengues are confident of landing Drenthe at a discount price...

Spanish newspaper Marca reports that Royston Drenthe's mooted switch to Real Madrid is progressing very quickly, with Feyenoord close to reaching an agreement with the Galatico side.

However, the deal appears to be very much in Madrid's favour. Originally, a 10 million euro figure had been suggested, but sources close to the Bernabeu club suggest that the actual figure may be considerably less than that.

Drenthe is being groomed as the heir to Roberto Carlos' left back slot, but could also play on the left side of midfield if required.

Royston broke into the Feyenoord first team last season, racking up 29 impressive first team appearances in the midst of the Rotterdam club's disastrous campaign that saw them finish 7th.

[LAF]

Won't Madrid play with two up top given the strikers they have? I remember Schuster saying he prefers one holding and another as the AM. Maybe a diamond?

[Robinho4Ever]

I've read today, in one of Real Madrid's webs that Mijatovic is having talks with Porto to move Quaresma to Madrid.