Now that we have to buy, will we buy or not?

Its official. Ruud van Nistelrooy is out for the season. He underwent the same surgery which he did in 2000 and will thus miss the rest of this season thereby leaving Schuster in a situation which no manager would want to be in. He has only two proper strikers who can score goals of which one is old and slow. One of the other two strikers in the squad has just gotten himself into the first team from the youth system and the other seems to have lost all the class that he had when he was a teenager ot at least that is what it looks like. All this leaves us only with one option to go out and buy an out and out striker, a goal scorer, a fox in the box or any other term you want to use for it. But that is not the only position which we have to cover up. We need a winger. A winger who doens’t get injured like brittle bones Robben.

With the current squad we have there are quite a few problems that we are facing. The defense is as weak as it has ever been in the past decade or so. Something has definitely gone wrong. Different people have different theories while the manager himself doesn’t have one. I myself have put forth quite a few theories but I now really don’t know what is wrong with the team. I can only assume that the squad is not complete and lacks vital players in vital positions which we had almost the whole of last season. The only period when we did not have such players we lost twice against Rome. So I guess that is the problem. In that case we have quite a few players who are being linked with us for a move in January.

Starting with Andrei Arshavin, the Russia international has once again reiterated his desire to leave Zenit St Petersburg when the transfer window re-opens in January, with a host of clubs believed to be tracking his availability. Arshavin remains unsure as to where his future may lie, but admits he would welcome the opportunity to accept a new challenge in the Spanish capital.

How could I not want to go to Madrid? The only thing that I have said is that I want to leave Zenit in the New Year.

The next on the list is Hatem Ben Arfa who just moved to Marseille in May from Lyon. Marseille insist Hatem Ben Arfa is not for sale after rejecting an approach from Real Madrid.

CSKA Moscow striker Vagner Love has revealed that he is clamouring for a move to Real Madrid. The Brazilian admits that Premier League outfit Everton have expressed an interest in acquiring his services, but concedes that he is holding out for a switch to Spain. The 24-year-old has spent the last four years in Russia, but is now seeking a move elsewhere.

There wasn’t any contact (with Real Madrid) but it would be wonderful. Every player’s dream is to represent Real Madrid.

If that’s the case then one player’s dream looks like it has come true. Alipio Duarte Brandao’s agent claims his client his close to securing a move to Spanish giants Real Madrid. The teenage sensation is set to be loaned to the Primera Liga outfit in order to gain experience with their reserve side. A permanent deal will then be reached at a later date, with Real set to pay 550,000 euros (£447,000) for the 16-year-old’s services. Alipio is regarded as one of the hottest prospects to come out of Brazil in recent years and is keen to follow in the footsteps of many of his South American counterparts. He is currently on the books of Portuguese outfit Rio Ave, but is keen to test himself at the highest possible level. His lofty ambitions include becoming a world renowned goalscorer like his countryman Ronaldo, while he also claims to possess many of the technical attributes regularly displayed by Manchester United’s Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo.

My main characteristics are being quick and a good scorer. My dream is to be like Cristiano Ronaldo, but I know I have a long way to go. Another dream is to play for the Brazilian national team and become a top scorer like Ronaldo. I know that Ronaldo has also played for Real Madrid and I would like to be like him. He is my idol.

In the last transfer rumour of the day we have Hernan Crespo. In an interesting article on La Liga talk the pros and cons of Crespo replacing RvN has been discussed.

In team news for the game against Valladolid Cannavaro and Ramos return. Bueno gets picked yet again after the impressive game against Real Union. The match preview to follow.

Till next time,

Hala Madrid!!