http://www.skysports.com/skysports/article/0,,1-1148334,00.html
SIR BOBBY REVEALS WOODY DEAL
Thursday 19th August 2004
Robson: Woodgate admission
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Sir Bobby Robson has confirmed to Sky Sports News that Newcastle have agreed a £15 million deal to sell Jonathan Woodgate to Real Madrid.
Robson insisted he did not want to sell the England international, but confirmed the defender would be travelling to Madrid for a medical.
The former England boss claimed Real's offer was too good for Newcastle to turn down - it represents a £6 million profit on a player they signed from Leeds in January 2003.
Woodgate's time on Tyneside has been plagued by injuries and Robson admitted there was still a chance the centre back could fail his medical in Spain.
"We are going to make a handsome profit on him, but we are not interested in the profit we are just interested in the player, but it's a huge offer and the club had to consider it," Robson told Sky Sports News. "I understand that but I don't want to lose Jonathan Woodgate.
"It's a huge sum of money, but it's a huge opportunity for him, do we deny him that opportunity? There is a moral issue here.
"He has a medical to pass, I think that is first and foremost.
"If he goes there isn't one person in this building from the chairman down to the youngest fan who won't be sorry to see him go.
"But he may not go. He may not want to. He may fail his medical, I don't know.
"Players do fail medicals, there isn't any reason why he should because the injury he sustained was almost four and a half months ago and he is almost through that, he's almost ready to play.
"That would be the only element that would affect his medical test because he has no other flaws in his make-up or character or body.
"So there's a good chance, more than a good chance he will pass his medical."
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