Drenthe,Robben,Van der Vaart and Sheijder.They will have Duch NT
Madrid Begin Operation Van Der Vaart
Bernd Schuster has told Real Madrid that signing Rafael van der Vaart is a priority and the club have sent representatives to Hamburg to open negotiations.
The Spanish giants are set to offer €15m for the former Ajax midfielder, who is preparing to play his first game in the Bundesliga on Saturday.
Madrid's interest in Van Der Vaart was revealed after Schuster's appointment and the former Ajax star has admitted that he would jump at the chance to move to the Bernabéu.
"Van der Vaart is on my list of wanted players," Schuster told Kicker recently. "The club knows his price and if we want we can sign him for the amount."
Van Der Vaart's agent, Soren Lerby, was remainined tight-lipped over the latest developments, but hinted that he expects something to happen over the next few days.
"Right now, we cannot comment on this matter," he explained. "We shall have to see what happens."
Van der Vaart has a contract with Hamburg until 2011, but has stated that he would leave the club if, and only if, Madrid were to make a concrete offer for his services.
"I want to play in the Champions League and to win trophies and Madrid is a great club," the 24-year-old was quoted as saying recently.
"I will continue to play for Hamburg of course, unless Real Madrid come for me. If they do, then I do not think that I could say no."
Bayern Munich failed with a €15m bid at the start of the summer break, but the player's desire to sign for los Merengues could well see him allowed to leave.
Hamburg paid just €5m for Van der Vaart two years ago and he has missed several games for the club due to a number of minor injuries.
Predrag Mijatovic, who was in Rotterdam on Thursday tying up the deal for Royston Drenthe, has maintained constant contact with Lerby and is ready to negotiate with Hamburg.
Van der Vaart was born in Heemskerk in Holland, but has a Spanish mother and family in Cádiz who he visits on a regular basis and they have told him that they would love him to join Madrid.
Those ties and the attraction of playing for such a glamorous club have meant that if Hamburg are willing to accept the offer, then the player would quickly agree personal terms.
goal.com