Real Madrid president Florentino Perez will find it difficult to resist entering a bidding war for Wayne Rooney - despite his foot soldiers trying to play down a move for the Manchester United star.
Rooney heading for the Old Trafford exit after falling out with boss Sir Alex Ferguson and indicating he will not sign a new contract unless his salary is doubled.
Madrid boss Jose Mourinho is a huge admirer of the England international but sidestepped the issue by saying Ferguson would talk his wayward talisman around, while director general Jorge Valdano has ruled out a January move.
The Spanish giants would prefer to wait till next summer, when the 24-year-old would have just 12 months left on his contract and could threaten to buy out his contract for as little as £5million.
But Perez, recently described as being obsessed with Rooney, will not willingly pass up the chance to sign him should Manchester City make an approach this winter.
The 63-year-old businessman created the Galactico era at the Bernabeu and Rooney fits the bill as player who is both supremely talented and commercial gold dust.
In the summer, when Rooney seemed beyond everyone’s reach, Perez insisted his club had very good players in the same position.
But it is no secret that Mourinho feels short of attacking options - regardless of what the Portuguese says in public - with only the unconvincing Karim Benzema as a direct alternative to Gonzalo Higuain.
Nonetheless, such has been Rooney’s fall from grace that Madrid fans would prefer the club to plump for Llorente, who has scored eight goals in 12 games for club and country since the World Cup. A poll of more than 15,000 visitors to the Marca website shows more than twice as many (69 per cent) in favour of signing Llorente.
No comments:
Post a Comment