Van der Vaart denies Chelsea report

Rafael van der Vaart has denied reports suggesting that he is close to agreeing a move to Chelsea.

The 26-year-old has struggled to make his mark at the Bernabeu since his switch from Hamburg last summer, but van der Vaart insists that he is focused on matters in hand with Real.

He told his official website: "I hear there are rumours about me wanting to go to Chelsea, but I have never said that.

"I have not yet decided on my future. I don't know anything about it.

"At Real Madrid a lot of things are going to happen in the summer, a new president and maybe a new coach. So I'll just wait and see."

Atletico Madrid have denied rumours linking Portugal midfielder Maniche with a summer switch to Sunderland.

The 31-year-old has fallen out of favour at the Vicente Calderon in recent times, but Atletico chairman Enrique Cerezo says that Maniche is not going anywhere just yet.

He told Sky Sports News: “Atletico want to have the best players and Maniche is one of them.

“What happened with Maniche happens within every team. Problems occur in every dressing room, but at the end of the day they are forgotten.

“He is still under contract for a year-and-a-half and we count on him.”

Meanwhile, veteran Real Madrid defender Fabio Cannavaro has played down reports linking him with a move back to Italy to join AC Milan next summer.

The 35-year-old central defender is out of contract at the end of the campaign and has been linked with several clubs despite his advancing years.

However, Cannavaro commented: “I have a contract until June with Real Madrid. I don't think it will be my last contract.

“The reports linking me with Milan are simply rumours, whoever wants me they have the number of my agent. But the future does not worry me.

“I am now thinking about the end of the season and how we can catch Barcelona in the league.”

Ramos and Van der Vaart dreams derbi final

The Merengue duo were present alongside Atleti’s Raúl García during a promotional appearance for sponsors Nike in Madrid City and all three made a light-hearted “pact” to go all the way to the Champions League final.
Both Madrid clubs have started Europe’s premier competition on a bright note, winning both their opening games and looking well on course to make the knockout round.
“We have both started well and I would definitely want the Champions League final to be a derbi,” stated Sergio Ramos.
His rival, Raúl García second the idea: “It’s still very early to say these things, but I hope it will happen too.”
Looking ahead to the upcoming La Liga clash with Espanyol on Sunday, the Real Madrid rightback was in support of coach Bernd Schuster’s rotation policy: “We have to alternate our players after the Champions League game, but we take a lot of joy from the victory the other day.”
Finally, van der Vaart had words of praise for his compatriot, Ruud van Nistelrooy.
“He is one of the best players in Madrid and he contributes a lot with a lot of good plays and goals.”

Van der Vaart's first training at Real Madrid

Rafael van der Vaart's hectic day ended with a mild training session, his first as a Real Madrid player.
Rafael van der Vaart was presented today as Real Madrid's latest signing. Over two thousand fans greeted him at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium as he donned the Real Madrid kit for the first time. After his first press conference and exclusive interview with Realmadrid.com, the player was ready to meet the squad later in the day.
He arrived in Real Madrid City at 19:00 and attended a mild session with 14 other players. They all took part in a practice game devised by Bernd Schuster.
Van Nistelrooy and Robben were close to Van der Vaart at all times, talking to him about the Club and assisting him with the language.
Rafael also had a chance to see all the facilities at Valdebebas, and was thrilled with what he saw.

I'll Help Madrid Win The Champions League - Van Der Vaart

Van der Vaart is aiming high and he cannot wait to get started at the Bernabeu.
He said: “I will fight to hold down a place in the team but Real Madrid has a lot of great players in their side and so, if I sit on the bench, it wouldn’t be a problem.
“Real Madrid has an objective, and that is to win the Champions League. I can help them but the important thing is to play.
On the summer's hottest transfer saga - Cristiano Ronaldo - he added: “Ronaldo? It would be good if he came.”
Van der Vaart then explained the reason why he didn’t play against Real in the Emirates Cup. The midfielder seems to suggest he missed the clash because he didn’t want to risk an injury.
He continued: “Everyone saw what happened to Wesley Sneijder, things like this can always happen and it was just a friendly.”

Player Profile:Rafael Van der Vaart

Name: Rafael van der Vaart
Born: Heemskerk, Netherlands
Nationality: Netherlands
Position: Attacking midfielder Left/Center
DOB: 11/2/1983
Current Club: Real Madrid FC

A product of the Ajax youth system, Rafael van der Vaart is no stranger to success. Leading a recovering Ajax team back to its glory days, van der Vaart has shown remarkable maturity for his age. He scored seven goals in 27 first-team appearances in his first full season, 2000/01, after replacing the veteran Richard Witschge. The next year he scored 14 in 20, as Ajax won the Eredivisie and Dutch Cup. With all his promise, van der Vaart was riddled with injuries and had to undergo surgery. But when fully fit, he can be compared to the best players Holland has ever produced. In February 2003, he signed a new deal with Ajax, and in the 2003/04 campaign, he's gotten the interest of other European clubs, including Manchester United and Juventus. In the 2004/05 season, Rafael van der Vaart was named Captain of the squad. During an international match against Sweden, van der Vaart was injured by fellow Ajax teammate, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, which led to the Ajax side to disfunction and also led to Ibrahimovic's sudden sale to Juventus. Ajax, unable to find a replacement striker, gave manager Ronald Koeman no choice but to put van der Vaart into striker position, especially with, Ajax striker, Wesley Sonck's poor form. Continuing a poor season, and lack of leadership quality, Koeman had no choice but to strip van der Vaart from his captaincy and give it to Tomas Galasek instead. Ronald Koeman quit the team as head coach, and Danny Blind took over the helm as manager. Van der Vaart was injured for most of the games left under Blind, and announced taht he did not plan on staying with Ajax, that he would take his game outside the Netherlands. Rumours began with van der Vaart that he would be moving to SV Hamburg, Germany, but the player played that down after many weeks of speculation. It turned out that speculation came to reality, and van der Vaart joined the German club, and became an instant hit with the fans scoring vital goals in their Bundesliga campaign.
Honours

2002
Dutch League
Dutch Cup
Dutch Supercup
Dutch Talent of the Year
2004
Dutch League

Van der Vaart signs Real Marid

Real Madrid Club made an official announcement that tells Van der Vaart signs Real Madrid.

Here is the announcement:
Real Madrid C.F. and Hamburg SV have reached an agreement for the 5-season transfer of Dutch player Rafael Ferdinand van der Vaart to the former club. The agreement is subject to the player’s medical examination and his signing of a federation contract.
Van der Vaart will be officially presented on Tuesday 5 August at 13:00 CET in the Presidential Balcony of the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.

Van der Vaart joins Real Madrid

The Spanish giants have lodged a new bid of €10m and expect that to be accepted alowing talks to begin between the clubs and the player's representative.With Cristiano Ronaldo's arrival now more and more unlikely, Madrid have turned their attentions to other players after Bernd Schuster pleaded with the club's hierarchy to add to his squad.
Van der Vaart has been on the club's list for months, but with all the focus placed on signing just one player Los Merengues are now having to push on with Plan B.
Hamburg meet Real Madrid in the Emirates Cup at Arsenal's stadium on Saturday and then play Juventus on Sunday, giving Van der Vaart two chances to showcase his talent to Schuster.
Ramón Calderón has backed down over his plans not to sign anyone should Ronaldo not be available and relented for the sake of the coached who asked for some new faces to freshen things up.According to Marca, Hamburg have decided to sell and use the money to find a replacement and after turning down just €6m last week, will say yes to the €10m now on the table.
Schuster is believed to have asked sporting director, Predrag Mijatovic, on July 10 to do a deal with Hamburg after initial contact was made and a deal looked set to be done then.Van der Vaart's arrival could see two or three new players arrive at the Bernabéu which would certainly mean that any bid for Ronaldo had been postponed this year.

El Marca: Real Madrid Signs Van Der Vaart

Spain newspaper El Marca is reporting that Real Madrid have come to an agreement with 25-year-old Hamburg midfielder Rafael van der Vaart.
The Dutch midfielder would join fellow countrymen Wesley Sneijder, Arjen Robben, and Ruud van Nistelrooy in the attacking half for the defending La Liga champions.
After being linked to Tottenham earlier this summer, van der Vaart had reportedly said he would rather stay with Hamburg than leave for a club at the same level. But he did hint that he would be open to a move to one of the major clubs in England, Spain, or Italy.
Over the last two summers Madrid has signed four dutch players—Robben, Sneijder, and Royston Drenthe joined the club last season—and will now sport five on their roster.
After watching this year’s European Championship, it looks like Madrid hope to replicate some of the attacking prowess that the Oranje showed in Austria/ Switzerland.
When my friend sent me a post from the German newspaper Kicker announcing the trade this morning, the only word of the article I understood was “Madrid.”
Both Kicker and El Marca are reporting that a deal is done with van der Vaart and a transfer is expected to be completed with over the next few days in the neighborhood of €20 million.
Where will van der vaart fit in with Madrid? The Spanish giants seem to have an abundance of attacking midfielders with Robben, Sneijder, Robinho, Baptista, and Guti.
If recent reports are correct, Robinho could be on his way to Chelsea which would explain Madrid’s thinking when bringing in van der Vaart.
Another big issue this raises is Los Blancos’ interest in Cristiano Ronaldo. Earlier this summer the transfer looked inevitable but with talks slowing down lately and this deal, it looks less and less likely that Ronaldo will join Madrid.
With this deal all but finished, here is a look at what Real’s starting lineup could look like as they attempt to defend their La Liga title:
GK: Iker Casillas.
DEF: Fabio Cannavaro, Sergio Ramos, Gabriel Heinze, Pepe.
MID: Fernando Gago, Sneijder, Robber, van der Vaart.
ATT: van Nistelrooy and Raul.
This is an incredibly potent team that can score goals and will not give up many. They also leave Bernd Schuster a lot of options whether he wants to play a 4-4-2 or a 4-5-1, he has the players.
What do you think about this transfer and what it will do for Madrid this next season and what it means for Ronaldo’s future with Man U.