Real candidate for Rooney

July 05, 2004

AFTER Manchester United admitted they could not afford Wayne Rooney, Real Madrid may be set to step into the breach.

A presidential contender for the Spanish club has countered Old Trafford's admission that the Reds can't afford Everton's '50m valuation by declaring that Real's kitty could stand a world-record splash.

Arturo Baldasano is an outsider in the elections for the top post at the Bernabeu as he challenges current president Florentino Perez, but he claims Real's new coach Jose Antonio Camacho can have Rooney if he wants him.

"If Camacho wants to have Rooney I don't expect any kind of problems to try to negotiate to recruit him," said Baldasano, who also says David Beckham can leave Madrid if the coach wants him to go.

"According to the accounts that Mr Perez presented last year we have, in cash, more than 140million euros ('94m).

"I don't think it is going to be a problem, the money. We can find the money in order to recruit Rooney."

Madrid's money-no-object position is in direct contrast to United's stand.

Reds chief executive David Gill said: "One of the reasons we run a successful operation is because we operate within strict financial parameters. We cannot afford '45m or '50m on one player."

United, however, will be buoyed by the fact that they appear to have driven off one money-laden rival in Chelsea. And despite Baldasano's boasts, the Reds remain in the driving seat of the future because Rooney is reluctant to uproot from the North West.

This week, the striker will have the plaster off the foot he broke in the Euro 2004 quarter- final defeat by Portugal, and will have X-rays to determine the healing process.

Everton are ready to offer him the most lucrative contract ever in the Merseyside club's history. They are understood to be prepared to double his current '13,000 weekly wage overnight in a new five-year deal, with a gradual increase to '40,000 over the period of the deal. However, there has been no contact yet between the club and Rooney's agent Paul Stretford and no new deal has been put on the table.

Stretford, who did business with the Reds as Andy Cole's agent, met United boss Sir Alex Ferguson at the end of last week at a charity golf tournament but it is understood the talk was a brief one in the clubhouse.

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Peter, Manchester (05/07/2004 at 12:58)

I know there have been numerous rumours floating about, I am putting my name to one. a deal with Everton is done and dusted United will pay a downpayment of 25 million, the number of apperances, trophies, and maybe even a sell on clause has been included....etc

mario, lima, peru (05/07/2004 at 13:00)

i'm no united fan but i think rooney should definatly go to old trafford over real madrid. like most english players, rooney wont be able to adapt to a foreign lifestyle - he'll become the next mark hughes or ian rush. in a perfect world he would stay at everton but if he has to leave he should go to arsenal or united over real or chelsea

Manc Abroad, OT (05/07/2004 at 13:07)

I do not know what accounting practices Real Madrid use, but they are broke again. They cannot afford 50 million, unless they sell. This guy has said that he would sell Beckham, Figo and Carlos if he took over. Problem is Figo is getting to the end of his career and Real will not get 25million for Beckham. This is similar to the Barcelona presedential elections last season. Promise a major signing, get elected, then find out who's available.

Big Bird, Salford (05/07/2004 at 13:13)

Theres something sad in this whole episode from our point of view. Why is Gill willing to listen to Everton`s valuation without putting up a fight. Why is he not willing to offer a realistic price, make the point clear that we are willing to talk shop about Rooney. All these comments completely ruling out any offer for the best English hopeful in over a decade show either short-sightness or a complete lack of foresight and ambition. Why do we continue to target other players of Rooneys age in the hope that they will be future stars, when Rooney is as close to the finished article as any we`re bound to get!

igor, sofia, bulgaria (05/07/2004 at 15:42)

i am a massive manchester fan. i think we should go for rooney for sure - rooney and nistlerooy up front will be great to see. my friends support real and now chelsea but their success will be for a short time! p.s. look out for svet todorov next year

Blue, City Centre (05/07/2004 at 18:32)

As a devoted Everton Fan - its heart breaking to see a kid who has lived and breathed EFC being sold. I hope what I read on Merseyside is true and we see a turn around like that of Gerrard last week.
I don't like this move for the pressure it might bring on the lad - hope he stays (at least you lot will have yet another Rooney song for the new season!)

Mel Gibson, Manchester (06/07/2004 at 09:38)

Not so sure I'd put my name to any of these rumours as Peter has, but I agree with Arsene Wenger for a change - Rooney will be a Manchester United player before too long. We've made some bad mistakes in the transfer market before, but something tells me that they won't let this one slip. I think it has been established that all parties will only offer around B#25-30m and I think we will be able to stretch to that. If not, he will definitely be arriving next summer once his value has drastically reduced (presuming he doesn't sign another contract).

The Pie Man, Penny lane (06/07/2004 at 10:12)

Real Madrid is out of the question,He is a home boy when most players go to Madrid they are seasoned campaigners not a schoolboy novice.He would be eaten alive in Madrid.His family have already settled on United.

John Barnes, Liverpool (06/07/2004 at 10:45)

Everbody is milking this for all it,s worth,Everton have had good deals from us i.e.Kidd,kancelsky,Sharpe,Rooney the deal is done everbody knows 25 million.

canton, asia (06/07/2004 at 16:02)

i am surprised by the no of mu fan who show interest in rooney. forget him, with the recent signings and the return of the others, the team is good enough. don't court trouble

SIMON., DERRY, N. IRELAND. (06/07/2004 at 20:41)

I think it's only a matter of how much money we have to hand Everton to land Rooney. Everton have admited for the first time that they would accept B#30m for him. Chelsea have admitted that they are no longer interested in him. United have also admitted that they could not afford Rooney if the price was B#40m to B#50m. When you look at all this then it looks like Everton know they are only dealing with United, who have stated they will not go anywhere near the B#50m first suggested. Now Everton have reduced their valuation to a more realistic B#30m, which United have paid for a few players before and will be within their "financial structure". It just seems to me that they are playing a cat and mouse game and United will probably start with a test bid of around B#20m. I would almost bet that Rooney will sign for United before the start of the season for between B#25m to B#30m, with maybe a player included in the deal too.

johnson, nigeria jos plateau state (12/07/2004 at 13:14)

i think fergerson is moving too fast roony is not worth that amount of money insted we should go for a stong midfielder at that amoun

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