Terry Bid

JohnnyBravo

From RIvals
Date: 1/4/2004

Madrid have sensationally decided that their big-name signing this year could be a centreback, and have identified John Terry as the man for that job. They are planning to use David Beckham to help land the Chelsea idol, and a substantial bid is under preparation. Terry himself is 'not interested'.


For the past 4 summers, ever since Florentino Pérez took over as President of Real Madrid, the club has made a big-name signing every summer. In fact, they have always signed the biggest names in the market. These have always been offensive stars, relegating defensive roles to squad players or the products of their youth system. The results are plain to see: the team has become woefully unbalanced: it scores a lot of goals, but also lets in far too many as their defence, neglected over the past 4 years, has become both aging and threadbare.

Whilst their fullbacks are the quite solid Michel Salgado and Roberto Carlos, the centrebacks are pure youth team products, such as Raúl Bravo or Francisco Pavon; indeed midfielder Ivan Helguera is often asked to fill in as a centreback.

Successive coaches have pleaded with Pérez to sign some defensive players as well. After Madrid's 4-2 humiliation by Athletic Bilbao, the coach Carlos Queiroz stated that it was not possible to fill the defence only with youth team products compared to the world class midfield and strike-force. Of course, the absence of Claude Makelele has also created a defensive weakness.

Madrid's numbers speak for themselves. They have let in a staggering 36 goals in the League, which puts them at only the joint 8th best in the table. Whilst they have the best strikeforce (63 goals), these stats are to be compared with Valencia, second in the table, with 60 goals scored … and only 21 conceded.

It is with this in mind that perma-grinning President of the club, Florentino Pérez has relented, and will make a big-name defensive signing over the summer. All the indications are, say the Madrid press today, that they have identified John Terry as the man they want to stop the rot in Madrid's backline.

Madrid's observers (one of whom was present last week to see the Chelsea - Arsenal game) have been impressed at Terry's marshalling of the Chelsea defence. In addition, it is said that David Beckham has given his new employers glowing references of the man who is considered to be his long-term replacement as England Captain. Madrid are helped in this by the reports of Terry Byrne, who is now Beckham's personal trainer, but who was previously John Terry's personal manager.

It is said that Madrid have specifically targeted Terry for a number of reasons. Firstly (and most clearly) because of his quality as a centreback. It has been noted that every time he has played against Thierry Henry, the Frenchman has failed to score. Secondly, Madrid consider that Terry's stock is likely to rise: he is certain to be in the Euro-2004, and privately Madrid are worried about the very real prospect that Chelsea will be Madrid's adversaries in the next round of the Champions' League (Roberto Carlos has said, publicly, that he thinks the next round will be Madrid - Chelsea rather than Madrid - Arsenal). In that, the Stamford Bridge idol will become a star in ascendancy.

Thirdly, however, there is a very real desire at the Bernabéu to hit back at Chelsea. Off the record, Jorge Valdano, Madrid's oleaginous Director of Sport is said to be fed up to the back teeth at the constant rumours that situate Madrid players (Beckham, Salgado, Roberto Carlos, Ronaldo …) at SW6. "I understand that this is a free market, and that the traffic can go in the other direction too, even if Madrid is not a selling club. However, it is the case that we will be looking to strengthen our defence over the summer. John Terry, whilst not a media star in the same category as Zidane, Beckham or Ronaldo, has the profile of a Madrid player - disciplined, young but already with a certain experience at the highest level". Valdano clearly didn't hear about the Heathrow incident or the night-club case.

Says 'As' this morning, Madrid are said to be putting together a bid of €28 million. Whilst that would represent a massive profit on a player who came through Chelsea's youth system, it is likely to be laughed out of Stamford Bridge, as this comes nowhere near either the player's buy-out clause, or Chelsea's valuation of the player. Terry signed a new contract over last summer, and Chelsea are in no need of selling anybody. Particularly not their captain, and a player who has been one of the first name on Claudio Ranieri's team sheet.

To help prise Terry away from Stamford Bridge, Madrid are hiring the services of one of the businesses top intermediaries, Juan-José Inocentada. They will also be, says 'Marca', using heavily the fact that Beckham is already at Madrid and can sell the club to Terry, not to mention play on the fact that Terry gives great importance to the possibility of improving his position in the England team.

As always, the Spanish press are talking up the prospects of Terry coming to Madrid, even if they recognise that he would be earning less than the 'galactico' players at the Bernabéu. They also suggest that Madrid might also be earmarking money for a second big-name signing over the summer (Francesco Totti?) and that this will, obviously, limit the amount they could bid for Terry. It is clear that they are likely to come up against their limitations rather quickly.

The Spanish press also understand that Terry is an absolute idol at Chelsea, and he would be turning his back on all that to move to Madrid, where he would be one of many stars. Indeed, the quiet-spoken lad is said to have told a friend that, whilst he is flattered, he is not going anywhere. "I'm not interested. I'm Chelsea through and through, and the only concern I have in Madrid is stopping Ronaldo and Raúl in the next round of the Champions League". Such is his faith in this new Chelsea project that he is also quoted (indirectly) as saying "this time next year, Chelsea will be above Madrid. Why should I risk taking a step down to go to Spain?"

We certainly hope that this is the case. John Terry is a massive player for Chelsea; his loss would create a huge hole in our backline. Let's hope that both he and Chelsea can resist Madrid's overtures.