So, who is leaving, and when?

n00bie deluxe · Jan 6, 2003

Even if nothing happens during the January transfer window, i still think Real will look vastly different by the start of next season.

Definitely going:

Solari
Morientes

Maybe going:

Guti
Makelele
McManaman

Rumored to be going, but I seriously doubt it:

Figo

Not going even if your life depended on it:

Zidane
Roberto Carlos
Ronaldo
Raul

dmar · Jan 8, 2003

Players maybe going, according to Marca, are:

Morientes
Solari
Celades
Makelele
Macca

Merengue · Jan 9, 2003

Originally posted by dmar
Players maybe going, according to Marca, are:

Morientes
Solari
Celades
Makelele
Macca
Click to expand...

I've said it before and I'll say it again, Madrid would make a major mistake if they allow Makelele to leave. The other players named above, while good, are surplus but Makelele is in my view one of the most important players on the team. If he goes who will do the ball winning in midfield?

dmar · Jan 9, 2003

Originally posted by Merengue
I've said it before and I'll say it again, Madrid would make a major mistake if they allow Makelele to leave. The other players named above, while good, are surplus but Makelele is in my view one of the most important players on the team. If he goes who will do the ball winning in midfield?
Click to expand...

I've said it before, too... IMHO, Makelele won't go until next year and then we can sign a guy who can defend in the midfield and pass the ball and organize the team. Or promeote one from the youth team.
In my view, Makelele is just not good enough for Real Madrid. And of course, he doesn't deserve more money.

n00bie deluxe · Jan 9, 2003

Well, it may look like one of my predictions is coming true. Santi looks on his way out this month.

http://www.inter.it/en/news/6714.html

Martin Cutler · Jan 9, 2003

Re: Re: So, who is leaving, and when?

Originally posted by Merengue
I've said it before and I'll say it again, Madrid would make a major mistake if they allow Makelele to leave. The other players named above, while good, are surplus but Makelele is in my view one of the most important players on the team. If he goes who will do the ball winning in midfield?
Click to expand...

I agree with Merengue on this. Makelele does all the dirty work in midfield allowing Zidane, Figo, Raul, Roberto Carlos etc to attack. Makelele is more than an acceptable passer and there are few better ball winners in midfield.

As for Solari, I'll be sad to see him leave. For those who read Spanish there's an interesting article in Marca detailing Madrid's plan renove (renovation plan).

http://www.marca.com/edicion/noticia/0,2458,224852,00.html

I think it'll be a mistake for Madrid to get rid of talented and experienced reserves like Solari and Mcmanaman. It's along season and they will be needed down the road.

Merengue · Jan 31, 2003

Solari stays, Raul Bravo goes

Solari ends up staying at Real Madrid. He couldn't agree financial terms with Inter (Real claims they intentionally low balled him while Inter claims what they offered is what the current market for salaries supports). Either way Solari didn't go for the lower salary at Inter and stays with Madrid.

As a result in order to give Raul Bravo playing time, Madrid has agreed to loan him out to England's Leeds United until the end of the current season. I wish Raul Bravo well there I imagine Solari can, as he's done in the past, cover for Roberto Carlos in the event he can't play and of course Solari will also be able to play on both the left and right side of midfield.