Real Madrid Update

By European Football
June 23 2005

Real have not signed Robinho yet, and Iván Helguera could join Owen, Guti, Samuel and Figo in leaving. Other signings could be Pablo García, Carlos Diogo, Diego Lugano and Sergio Ramos. Negotiations with Inter over Samuel still carry on.

The transfer of the young Brazilian star Robinho may find some trouble. His good performances in the Confederations Cup have motivated Santos’ directives to demand 50 million dollars, the player’s fee release clause. Santos chairman Marcelo Teixeira said:

“Our intention is that Robinho stays until 2008, when his contract expires. We have no interest in getting rid of him unless we are paid his minimum fee release clause.”

Meanwhile, Real Madrid and Robinho had already reached and agreement a long time ago, which motivated the player to state that his “signing could be done in a matter of hours”.

‘Los Merengues’ are also interested in other players, three of them are Uruguayans. Full back Carlos Diogo is most likely to join the team, since he will be a free agent in less than a month, and would have reached an agreement with Florentino Pérez. Sao Paulo center back Diego Lugano is also close to Madrid since his contract includes a release clause in case of a better offer by another team. Osasuna’s midfielder Pablo García, is another strange negotiation. On one hand, Real claim that are counting on him for next season, but Osasuna’s President Patxi Izco insists that there are no negotiations going on as he stated:

“I know nothing from Real Madrid. I have been wanting to call Florentino Pérez to discuss the issue. We don’t want to negotiate over Pablo García unless we fell forced to do so.”

Osasuna owns half of the players rights, and would be forced to let him go if the player receives a better offer from another team. The fee Real would pay is around 8 million euros, of which 4 would go to Osasuna.

Another players real have shown interest are Antonio Cassano, for whom Real offered 15 million euros but Roma also wanted Guti, and Mickael Essien, since Lyon confirmed that they received a 25 million bid for the player.

Regarding the players that are leaving, Figo is wanted by half the teams in Europe with Newcastle United closer to get him; Guti is wanted by Roma, Arsenal and other Premiership teams; Iván Helguera has received many offers from another teams and will wait till November to see if Real Madrid want to extend his contract; and Owen will continue his career in the Premiership too.

Inter have offered Brazilian defender Luisao and Edgar Davids in exchange for Walter Samuel, after the ‘nerazzurri’ refused to pay 22 million for him. The Argentine stated that he doesn’t want to leave Madrid.