by GIANFRANCO PANIZO
Rafael van der Vaart has apparently played his last game for Real Madrid.
The Dutch midfielder has been told by Real Madrid manager Manuel Pellegrini that he is surplus to requirements, and that it would be pointless for him to remain with los merengues.
That statement has left van der Vaart hoping to rejoin Hamburg SV, the club he transferred from last summer. Whether the club has enough money to secure his services after a busy summer in the transfer window is unknown, but van der Vaart insists there are other options available for him.
Van der Vaart scored five goals and recorded six assists in 32 league games for Real Madrid last season.
Here are some more transfer stories to get you through the day:
Chelsea refuses to sell Cole
Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole will remain with the club after a moved linked him with Tottenham.
Chelsea released a statement that said the club would not consider any offers for Cole, and that their sole intention was to help him get healthy for the upcoming season.
Cole missed the latter part of last season with a knee injury.
Trezeguet to stay with Juventus
David Trezeguet has decided to stay with Juventus.
Trezeguet, who has been linked all summer with a move away from the club, told the team website that he is staying with the club at least until the end of this season. The French international's decision comes after a summer where he received interest from AS Roma and AC Milan.
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Do you think Real Madrid is making a mistake in letting van der Vaart find a new club? Should Chelsea consider selling Cole? Is Trezeguet staying with Juventus a wise move?
Share your thoughts below.
Van der Vaart’s potential return to Hamburg has split fans of Hamburg SV. He was one of the best players who ever wore team colours. But his desire to leave Hamburg around this time last year angered many fans and I am not so sure many would forgive him, never mind taking him back. Ironically, he caused a lot of uncertainty during preparations last year; now, he is the one facing uncertainty. As they say, what goes around, comes around. Personally, I would not take him back. The team has found some nice alternatives and Trochowski has flowered into an excellent offensive mid-fielder.
What are the chances of van der Vaart going to Arsenal. They need as much help as they can get!
Altidore at Hull would be a nice move. Hull stunk at forward last season, and they weren’t able to acquire Bobby Zamora so starting spots are still available. Hull might not be any good this coming season, but at least the opportunity is there to start all year. And if they are paying 6.5 million pounds its not to ride the bench. Hull can’t afford that on a bench player.
HSV is an extremely well-managed organization and I doubt very much they will try to figure out how they can afford Van Der Vaart, especially since they have performed pretty well without him.
I’d love to see Van Der Vaart at Villa. He could be the attacking midfielder Barry tried to be but couldn’t.(seeing as he’s a holding mid) I think VDV would be a perfect fit, but surely a Champions League club will want him.
@Galaxian: The tired refrain of “Chelsea buys their team…” is no longer true. Look at their transfer activity in the last 3-4 years. They have been very close to a net 10M Euros, maybe 15M Euros. Over the last four seasons, they have been outspent in total by Liverpool, Man City, Real, Barca, Inter, AC Milan, Bayern Munich, and one other German Club (I think). Until Man U just sold Crissy for a kazillion $, they were about the same in transfer activity for four years.
Van Der Fart is absolute trash.
i dunno if this is the end of cole to tottenham… he wants to go there, he’d start regularly when he’s healthy and for his mentor, redknapp. i could easily see him handing in a request.
why does chelsea insist on keeping him anyway?
Real Madrid doesn’t make mistakes (cept vs. Barca) burn…
Bring Voldemort to the MLS! like trade Donovan for him!
im pretty amazed noone else is jumping at the chance to sign Van Der Vaaert. This is coming from a Bremen supporter by the way (Scheisse HSV)
RM better hurry up and start unloading players – especially mids and forwards. So far they’ve only bought. They need to figure out who else is going – Robben? Snejder? Diarra? de la Red? Higiun?
*enforcer
Just a thought,
How about van der Vaart to Aston Villa? O’Neil came out and said Villa needs a new heart, I could see van der Vaart sitting in the middle of park with an enforce to keep things clean as he drives the team forward. Almost like Lampard or Ballack, if you will.
The real loss for Madrid is VdV’s wife…
Cole is a great player with a great imagination. I would like to see VDV in the EPL. Also anyone have thoughts on the Gunners match vs Rangers? I would have to say that this shows us that the SPL in a joke is TODAYS football world Wether it’s Celtic or whoever it’s just boring yes i admire the passion of the fans but celtic and rangers have pretty much crashed out of every major Euro tournament, Yes Rangers came close to in uefa cup and the last time Celtic won it was in 1966 and in 1970 they came close in the final but nothing sice then. Overall Id rather watch the MLS or the USl.
As a HSV fan, I’m not sure I want vdV back after he pretty much forced his way out because he thought he could play for Real – which was a joke, even back when he transferred…and the fact that he was wearing an Atletico jersey because he thought he was going there (before it was official). Totally classless moves. Great ballplayer, but if he did those things before, it’s only a matter of time until he does it again when some other “big club” comes calling.
@patrick,
Just read that article, not sure how much I trust the dailymail, but I hope Jozy can make the move.
anyone see article in the daily mail that allegedly Hull is gonna try and buy jozy for 6.5 million pounds? that’s a mighty offer and good profit for villa. I think they might pull the trigger. Article says Hull has a good chance to cinvince him he can play everyday, and I think thats not a bad situation, provided he gets the compensation and promise of real playing time.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1204101/Hull-ready-rival-Fulham-6-5m-USA-kid-Jozy-Altidore.html
As a Barca fan, no. Chelsea is probably the deepest. Man U was certainly right up there but now with Tevez and CR gone, Hargreaves almost permanently living in the infirmary, plus Scholes and Giggs finally declining, they have lost that title IMO.
Barca were remarkably lucky last season and saved by the versatility of several players like Puyol and Yaya to play multiple positions.
At the front line behind Messi, Henry, and Ibra there is only Bojan (still very yount at 18-19), Jeffren and Pedrito (canterano wingers both 21 years old and recently promoted), and Iniesta if he can be spared from midfield. At midfield behind Xavi, Iniesta, and Yaya are only Busquets and Keita with Hleb on loan and Guddy supposedly on his way out. At defense, we have two 17 and 18 year old canteranos, a 22 year old prospect, one of Puyol/Marquez (whichever doesn’t play that day) and Maxwell as backups. We count on the young ones to step up like Pique, Busquets, and Bojan did last season and quite a lot of luck that the likes Messi, Xavi, and Iniesta stay free of long term injuries.
When you consider Chelsea have the likes of Ballack, Obi Mikel, Lampard, Essien, Zhirkov, Cole, Kalou, Malouda, and Deco only just in Midfield or Winger positions then yeah, they are sure as hell deeper.
Colin, Barcelona is deeper than chelsea. And the only reason CFC is so deep is because they spend like Real Madrid. I hope to never see that in MLS. Having said that, CFC must be in atleast the top 5 in overall depth in the world.
Any time a player like Rafael van der Vaart is considered “surplus” you know a team is loaded. He would be a sure starter on almost any other team in the world.
I am a Chelsea fan, so I’m biased, but I don’t think I’m going out on too much of a limb to say that CFC are the deepest team in the world. Their astounding depth doesn’t look like diminishing any time before the season starts. With the squad they have, even without any other additions like Pirlo, they are excellently positioned to challenge for trophies on all four fronts. I just can’t think of a team who can match them for quality in all competitions over the course of a season.
Joe Cole’s goal in 2006 vs. Sweden was one of the most sublime things i’ve ever seen. Right next to Benny’s wondergoal. =]
I’m not a Chelsea fan, but I love watching Cole play. He reminds me a lot of Dempsey… a hard worker with a surprising set of foot skills and a knack for big time goals…