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Van der Vaart already up for sale
Wednesday 17 December 2008
Spanish daily AS reported today
that Real Madrid already want to put Rafael van der
Vaart up for sale as he is struggling to get into the
first team despite a long list of injuries.
Van der Vaart was Real Madrid’s
only big signing in the summer when he joined from Hamburg
for €13 million.
The 25-year-old had a great start
netting four goals in his first three league matches
for the Spanish champions, but he has since struggled
to get a start.
Last Saturday against Barcelona
Van der Vaart was overlooked when Wesley Sneijder had
to come off injured and coach Juande Ramos opted for
the inexperienced Miguel Palanca instead.
He did start against Zenit St Petersburg
but was taken off at half-time.
AS wrote that Madrid's Director
of Football Pedrag Mijatovic has lost all confidence
in the playmaker and has been so unimpressed by the
Oranje midfielder’s displays that he is now considering
putting him up on the transfer market in June next year.
The Madrid-based daily also speculated
that former coach Bernd Schuster had noticed a change
in Van der Vaart’s mental and physical attitude
during training several months ago.
AS write that Van der Vaart is
overweight, a problem he dealt with in his early years
at Ajax as well.
Ever since compatriot Wesley Sneijder
returned from injury, the ex-Hamburg captain has barely
been utilized and he has continually looked lackluster
even when called upon.
The good news for Van der Vaart,
based on the reports that he will only be transfer listed
in the summer trade period, is that Mijatovic is willing
to give him until the end of the season to turn his
fortunes around.
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