Real Madrid in for Ruud again

Aquos76

Real Madrid are reportedly ready to offer Michael Owen as bait in a bid to land Ruud van Nistelrooy.

According to The Sun, sources in Spain say Real are ready to offer the former Liverpool hitman in a bid to prise Dutch ace van Nistelrooy away from Manchester United.

The Spanish giants are confirmed long-term admirers of van Nistelrooy, who has struggled to regain top form since returning from an Achilles injury in February.

And now they're poised to test the waters again, this time with Owen offered as part of the deal.

Van Nistelrooy's agent Rodger Linse has reportedly quoted a fee of £12million for the striker, who joined United for around £19million from PSV in the summer of 2001.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2005182144,00.html
http://www.sportinglife.com/football/news/story_get.dor?STORY_NAME=soccer/05/04/22/manual_081742.html

On a slightly different note, fergie has spoken about his desire to stay on at Utd and also who he thinks should replace him, when he does decide to go.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/4471747.stm

Cyrus

silly rumour,

theres not a snowballs chance in hell owen would go to united, and an even slimmer chance van nistelrooy would accept £12m

Big Nelly

Same bulls**t as last week when they had an "interview" with Ruud and he said that he wanted to leave......The Sun is a fookin joke....wouldnt believe a word they write....also there is no way I can see Owen going to Utd.....he will go back to Liverpool if he comes back to UK.....also I cant see Man Utd wanting him.....wouldnt fit into the system they play!!!

~Rebel~

Thats total toss i'd say. Anyway, Liverpool have a first refusal clause if Owen is to leave Real, assume this would mean they'd have to say they don't want him for him to go to Utd. Whatever chance there is of this happening if he was to join an italian club or something, no chance they'd let Utd take him i'd say..

Raskolnikov

I was more surprised to see Ferguson recommending Keane as the new Man U manager. There's no doubting his commitment or desire to win but he's completely unproven and has no experience whatsoever in managment.

PHB

Does anyone else think Ruud is worth like 20 million +
or am I just biased cause I'm a united fan.

Big Nelly

I would say Utd would get close to 30 million for him....his record in Europe is unbeatable!!

yop

Once again

According to The Sun

When are people going to stop posting crap from that paper

Big Nelly

yop wrote:

Once again

When are people going to stop posting crap from that paper

Newbies......they will never learn!! next there will be quotes from the Mirror!!

yop

Newbies......they will never learn!! next there will be quotes from the Mirror!!

Ya stupid quotes, like "Liverpool to win Champions League"

wheres me jumpa

ruud seems to be a loyal player, however given one more bad season(trophy wise) i think he may want to find a move elsewhere. for the moment i think he is a committed man utd player who is worth way more than 12 million.

one of these days im going to believe the sun!

Aquos76

Big Nelly wrote:

Newbies......they will never learn!! next there will be quotes from the Mirror!!

So what you need to have over 1000 posts before you are nolonger considered a newbie.

And for the record Dec 2001 I joined and you were when? Oct 2003 and I'm a newbie, Yeah whatever you say

uberwolf

Leonard wrote:

So what you need to have over 1000 posts before you are nolonger considered a newbie.

And for the record Dec 2001 I joined and you were when? Oct 2003 and I'm a newbie, Yeah whatever you say

get back in your box lol.

Keano_sli

Yeah the Sun journos are so hard working, as seen here by Mediawatch on Football365. An entire article almost word for word from the Newcastle Chronicle and tagged "exclusive" http://www.football365.com/features/mediawatch/story_150120.shtml
IT really shouldn't be on the same shelf as newspapers, move it to the comic section I say!

~Rebel~

Keano_sli wrote:

Yeah the Sun journos are so hard working, as seen here by Mediawatch on Football365. An entire article almost word for word from the Newcastle Chronicle and tagged "exclusive" http://www.football365.com/features/mediawatch/story_150120.shtml
IT really shouldn't be on the same shelf as newspapers, move it to the comic section I say!

heh, yeah they really are a joke. at work bout 2 years ago there was always a "sun" left in the canteen, at first i was shocked at some of the revelations i'd find but after about 10mins of the first read the sun informed me that gerrard was 26 and was a striker apparantly.. that was the last time i read it for football news.

Bannor

There's truth to the story but that rag has got it arse ways. In the past week he has been offered to four Spanish clubs by his agent (apparently with the approval of the Utd management) - Real Madrid, Barcelona, Athletico Madrid and Valencia.

Real Madrid : straight swap for Owen.
Athletico Madrid : part exchange deal for Torres.
Barcelona : offered for €17M.
Valencia : exchange for Vicente.

uberwolf

what of Liverpools first option on Owen - and while you're here any other gossip for us? PLEASE!?!

thejollyrodger

well RVN is a top class player. I wouldnt be surprised if he did go to Reál. Things at United arent as good as they once were

As for Fergie, I think he is pushing things a bit too much. He is only a manager and Man Utd have been in decline since they have won the Champions League. He has been living off it ever since. I personally dont think RMK is the best manager for United. He hasnt ever managed before. He should take a small club first.;)

Bannor

uberwolf wrote:

what of Liverpools first option on Owen - and while you're here any other gossip for us? PLEASE!?!

Benitez isn't interested in Owen, he'd like a 20 goals a season striker but not at the expense of the team. Owen is going to get alot more first team football with Madrid between now and the end of the season. Luxemburgo has been told to "freeze Figo out but do it gently". Perez wants to make sure that Figo leaves the club in the summer - destination Liverpool/Porto.

There's a bit of movement behind the scenes with Gerrard - he has said that he's not sure he wants to leave the club now. There will be a contract offered to him in the summer if he sticks by the decision to stay but one of the conditions of the contract that Rafa wants is that Gerrard gives his agent the bullet.

Baros could be off to Italy - Juventus have expressed an interest and Trezeguet has been offered to Barcelona and Valencia. No fees have been mentioned but Juve want Trezeguet to agree a deal with a new club before a price is negotiated. Barca are only keen to sign one striker at the moment and Deportivo's Albert Luque is the man in question.

uberwolf

cann't see Figo at pool, strange choice I'd a thought for a team that being built? heard his mentatlity was questionable - not a muskeeter kinda fella...

Baros for Trezequet anyone? I'd take that!! seems a strange one though.
Trez has been profilic for Juve in the past, though outside the team right now.
I'd a feeling re: Gerrard though he needs to make his mind up soon and allow Benetiz plan properly cos obviously that would dictate what happens in the summer significantly!

mr_angry

This just in - "Fergie: I Never Said Them Things"

http://www.football365.com/news/story_150351.shtml

Apparently he didn't even speak to the Sun.

LoneGunM@n

Bannor wrote:

There's truth to the story but that rag has got it arse ways. In the past week he has been offered to four Spanish clubs by his agent (apparently with the approval of the Utd management) - Real Madrid, Barcelona, Athletico Madrid and Valencia.

Real Madrid : straight swap for Owen.
Athletico Madrid : part exchange deal for Torres.
Barcelona : offered for €17M.
Valencia : exchange for Vicente.

Ah Cr@p ... I hate when Bannor mentions Man Utd & the sale of a player, 'cause he's usually right!!

If it does happen, what in Gods name are the board doing selling him for less than 25m

uberwolf

cann't understand why they'd sell him at all TBH. Phenomenal record.

mr_angry

Maybe the inside scoop on his latest injury isn't good?

yop

To be honest I really would not be suprised if he was off, the United needs funds to strenghten the defence, for a midfielder and keeper. The only way is to 1 Let Glazier buy and supposidly invest 20m 2. Sell RVN, get in 20 million, sell Bellion, Saha?

He then has maybe 25 million to spend, I can see it happening. The way he looks at it that he has Rooney, Smith, Ole?, Rossi then the option of Scholes and Giggs.
Then there is a strong enough midfield with Keane, Ronaldo, Fortune, Millar, Kleb, Flethcher, Richardson, O'Shea, then if he brings in a creative midfielder.
The Ferdinand, the 2 nevilles, Heinze, McShane, Silvestre, Spector.
Then 2 keeper, that is a squad of 23 players.
Bring in 2 or 3 players that should be a competitive squad, enough to win a league or CL is debateable.

Time will tell

The Muppet

I don't believe Ruud will be sold. Why sell one of Europes Top strikers to your rivals . There are rumours that he is less than happy at the moment but hopefully these problems will be sorted and he will stay.

SteM

http://skysports.planetfootball.com/list.asp?hlid=271678&CPID=8&CLID=&lid=2&title=Fergie+blasts+van+swap+talk&channel=Football_Home

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has angrily rejected reports linking Ruud van Nistelrooy with a move to Real Madrid in a swap for Michael Owen.

Reports in Spain and England have claimed that United had approached Real about a possible swap deal involving van Nistelrooy and Owen.

Ferguson has slammed the suggestions and insists they would not be looking to try and sell van Nistelrooy.

"The unfortunate part about this job is that you have to deny or refute something every week because we are big news," said Ferguson.

"The idea that we would tout the best forward in Europe around is such rubbish it's hardly worth commenting on.

"The truth is we are not touting Ruud, we have not been touting Ruud and there is no chance of us touting him in the future."

Ferguson also moved to clear up reports suggesting that he wants Roy Keane to succeed him at Old Trafford.

The wily Scot has one more year to run on his current contract and he has always admitted he can see Keane managing the club one day.

However, Ferguson insists he will not make the decision on who replaces him when he finally quits Old Trafford.

"It's nonsense. I wouldn't presume to have the authority to make these decisions," added Ferguson.

"What I said - as I have always said - is that Roy Keane has got the potential to be a manager if that is what he wanted to be.

"He is taking his badges and it all seems quite straightforward.

"But as usual everything has been spun out of all proportion. These were comments made eight weeks ago.

"He is our captain and he plays - that is his job."

The Muppet

See I told you so!

Aquos76

uberwolf wrote:

get back in your box lol.

Who was asking you? sad git lol

Draupnir

yop wrote:

McShane

United let him go a while back.

The Muppet

Draupnir wrote:

United let him go a while back.

You Sure?

Reserves v. Wolves at Old Trafford 18-4-2005

---

Heaton
Picken---McShane-Pique-Eckersly
Bellion---Miller---Jones---Martin

---

Heath-Rossi

wheres me jumpa

i was hearing good things about mcshane, not sure what game it was but he was called up to the seniors for it. hope he does well.

yop

I actually thought McShane was gone but he played on Monday nite!!

eirebhoy

wheres me jumpa wrote:

i was hearing good things about mcshane, not sure what game it was but he was called up to the seniors for it. hope he does well.

He played in a few games with the first team on the pre-season tour to America. Partnered Roy Keane in central defence against Bayern:
http://www.championsworld.com/press_box/game_recaps_detail.asp?mrID=18

PHB

Real Madrid : straight swap for Owen.
Athletico Madrid : part exchange deal for Torres.
Barcelona : offered for €17M.
Valencia : exchange for Vicente.

The only deal there that I think would be beneficial would be Athletico Madrid and Torres. But I don't think that Ruud would want to go to there.
That said I Could understand Ruud if he wanted to leave. He is imo the best striker in the world and I'd like him to win the CL. Obviously I'd rather do it with United, but if he wants to move on I think he deserves it.
Also a friend of mine wants him sold because he has said a load of times that he wants to retire at his peak, which is gona be 30/31
That's only two more years of van the man, so in the long term it might be an idea.
But only, only for Torres
Vincente + cash might be nice too, but Ruud wouldn't go to either of those teams.

If he went for enough cash to replace scholes/keano and a winger, with Rossi alledgedly amazing, it might be possible

Big Ears

'He is imo the best striker in the world and I'd like him to win the CL. '

You rate him ahead of Shevshenko ? .

PHB

I don't see Schevchenko as a striker, I see him as a forward if you know what I mean. Henry and Ruud are totally different players for example, I think Schev is in the Henry class rather than the Ruud class.
He's the best poacher imo

LegacyUser

I agree Schev is in the Henry category and not the Ruud one.

I think it only makes sense to sell Ruud. I love him as a player but we need money to buy a left winger, a defender and a central midfielder ASAP. Money is already aside for a new goalkeeper but still.

However I was thinking more likely 25mill rather than a poxy 17 Million!

wheres me jumpa

eirebhoy wrote:

He played in a few games with the first team on the pre-season tour to America. Partnered Roy Keane in central defence against Bayern:
http://www.championsworld.com/press_box/game_recaps_detail.asp?mrID=18

i was at the game against ac milan, dont think he played that day, but jonathon spector played and looked good, also chris eagles cam on and looked the part.

neither have really come through this year. eagles had a few games and looked very poor.

eirebhoy

I don't see Milan much but Shevchenko is a lot more like Ruud than Henry imo. I stand corrected as I don't see him much but he played against Celtic twice this season and looks to me like an out and out striker.

LegacyUser

maybe....but he can also pop them in from 20/30 yards out!

Bannor

PHB wrote:

The only deal there that I think would be beneficial would be Athletico Madrid and Torres. But I don't think that Ruud would want to go to there.

The Athletico transfer won't happen - they turned down an offer of €60M from Chelsea, so they're not likely to accept an offer of RVN plus pocket change. They've also made a player exchange offer for Deportivo's Luque - the offer is any three players from Athletico's first team squad excluding Torres.

Of the proposed offers the Vicente offer is the most likely, but there has been some interest from Liverpool in the player so that could scupper any deal.

Perez wants to keep Owen now and it would be one of Raul and Ronaldo that would have to make way. It wouldn't surprise me in the least if Real offered a straight swap of Raul for RVN.

I think the Barca offer was just to get Real interested, his agent has met with club officials in the past but things never progressed, where as with Madrid the player agreed contract terms some time ago.

PHB

What will Athletico take to release Torres? Its nuts.
Ruud for Raul is a **** deal
Ruud for Vincente is a nice deal, but why would Ruud be willing ot play Valencia? Especially when they won't be in the CL next year?

Bannor

uberwolf wrote:

cann't see Figo at pool, strange choice I'd a thought for a team that being built? heard his mentatlity was questionable - not a muskeeter kinda fella...

Baros for Trezequet anyone? I'd take that!! seems a strange one though.
Trez has been profilic for Juve in the past, though outside the team right now.
I'd a feeling re: Gerrard though he needs to make his mind up soon and allow Benetiz plan properly cos obviously that would dictate what happens in the summer significantly!

Benitez is going about the summer transfers without taking Gerrard in to account - if he goes he wil be replaced.

I've been told that there are three players as good as signed for the summer so far. Andy Johnson of Palace being the first - fee will be determined in the summer. The other two players are in Spain but they're not necessarily Spanish. I don't know who they are yet and I'm not likely to hear until the deals are sealed but I've been told the transfer fees are €13M and €15M. My guess is that the €15M player is Daniel Alves from Sevilla - Liverpool had a bid of €12M in for him around Christmas but were told €15M would be required to secure the player.

Bannor

PHB wrote:

What will Athletico take to release Torres? Its nuts.

They told Chelsea they would only consider an offer in excess of €100M and that the buy out clause on his contract is €150M if they are really interested.

PHB

Cricky, surely if he submits a request he will be allowed leave, since his contract will eventually run out?

I honastly think that Liverpool will buy Pablo Aimar to replace Gerrard if he leaves, and considering AImar is better, that'd be a real funny transfer

Aquos76

PHB wrote:

I honastly think that Liverpool will buy Pablo Aimar to replace Gerrard if he leaves, and considering AImar is better, that'd be a real funny transfer

I have watch AImar a good number of times this season, and to be honest he is very hot and cold. To me, he is a big game player and when it comes to the nitty grittey ones he does not want to know. I'm sure liverpool have enought of players like that eg... Garcia and Gerrard(although he will be gone in the summer)

LegacyUser

Garcia is no way near as good as Aimar!

PHB

Aimar played consistantly good under Benetiz

Aquos76

cheesedude wrote:

Garcia is no way near as good as Aimar!

Your spot on there. I only compared him to Aimar as been an under preformer in the not so big games.

wheres me jumpa

for all those interested there is a large piece in the star on sunday today about mcshane, again rating him very highly. similar stories as to what we heard about o'shea when he was breaking in.

having read this thread im shocked at the thought of ruud leaving. i personally cant believe utd would let him go, but some of ye guys have made some interesting points and it seems so weird that we are talking like this.

i personally hope he doesnt leave as i regard him as one of the best goalscorers in europe. his european record is phenominal.