Garay to Real

[donny1013]

Real Madrid have agreed to sign Ezequiel Garay from Racing Santander after negotiations were concluded between the two clubs, according to reports.

Spanish newspaper Marca claims the Argentina international will cost Los Merengues €10million (£8million), potentially rising to €11million (£8.8million), and will put pen-to-paper on a six-year deal at the Bernabeu in the next few days.

Garay has been a long-term target of the recently crowned champions and his arrival is expected to pave the way for the departure of either Fabio Cannavaro or Christoph Metzelder this summer.

Barcelona looked set to sign the centre-back, but president Joan Laporta vetoed the deal due to a reported €18million (£14.3million) asking price.

Racing qualified for the Uefa Cup on the final day of the Primera Division campaign, but their achievement was not enough to retain the player's services.

From Sky Sports (Marca)



Great signing for Real, wish he had gone to Barca as Milito is now out for 9 months.

 

[Kyras]

Yeah good signing for Real, quiet pleased actually, would assume Metzelder's going to leave now as has had a really bad season (injuries, not form wise). Maybe we would be wise to put in a bid for him? Three international class, injury prone centre backs, Metzelder, King and Woodgate, and hope that only one was injured at a time.

However, in SPain, nothing is as seems, these pre-contractual signings aren't exactly concrete, IIRC Barcelona had signed Garay back in February, for them to cancel it around 2 months ago.

 

[Supernova.M]

As much as we paid for Kaboul... it makes me weep!

 

[Sbix]

Not that I believe we could have got him, seemed pretty likely to stay in spain... and with both Barca and Real interested so... but that they paid pretty much the same for him as we did for Kaboul... :sad:

 

[Blotto]

Would have loved him at the Lane; remember that Marca is basically a Real Madrid fanzine...

 

[P-Dogg]

Cannavaro to us, please!

 

[tobi]

Bargain price, he should stay at Racing for another season though, a year of UEFA Cup will be good for him rather than be Fabio's sub next season.

 

[DEFchenkOE]

Bargain price, he should stay at Racing for another season though, a year of UEFA Cup will be good for him rather than be Fabio's sub next season.

He's been loaned back to Racing for a season now:

http://www.goal.com/en/articolo.aspx?contenutoid=703624

 

[miles_64]

Acheté dix millions d'euros par le Real Madrid, Ezequiel Garay va rester un an de plus dans son club, avec qui il s'est brillamment qualifié pour la Coupe de l'UEFA. Les Merengues, avec qui il a signé un contrat de six ans, veulent que le défenseur central argentin mûrisse encore un peu à l'abri de la pression madrilène.

Basically - he's staying a year so that he matures as a footballer.

 

[Kingellesar]

Strange deal, thought he would've got a shout at cementing a place in the first team at Madrid, Cannavaro knocking on, and Metzelder not upto scratch this season (or so I've heard...). Still, good for Racing I suppose, the boy has huge potential. Good signing for them, just wish it was for us.

 

[Kyras]

Strange deal, thought he would've got a shout at cementing a place in the first team at Madrid, Cannavaro knocking on, and Metzelder not upto scratch this season (or so I've heard...). Still, good for Racing I suppose, the boy has huge potential. Good signing for them, just wish it was for us.

The whole Metzelder situation is a mystery, apparently he's been injured a lot, but Real seem so keen to get rid of him as opposed to giving him a chance, knee-jerk management or have they found a real concern with his fitness and want to sell before anyone finds out?

 

[tobi]

He's been loaned back to Racing for a season now:

http://www.goal.com/en/articolo.aspx?contenutoid=703624

Its best for everyone involved.