Makelele

[OldRed1]

I keep reading of a link with Makelele of Real. It sounds a like a load of horseshit to me, he's supposedly another midfielder. Can anyone tell me what he's like and what sort of player is he?

<img src="confused.gif" border="0">

 

[uranushk1]

He is a defensive midfielder who do all the dirty works in the midfield of Real. He is not as good as Keano nor Vieira and He is near 30 if I haven't remember wrong, therefore I think this rumour is completely shite.

 

[Lawmill]

He is a very good destroyer, but his distribution and dribbling are pretty bad. Cambiasso is a much more polished player and still in his early twenties.

I believe his contract is up after this year. He is requesting $3 million a year but Real are only offering $1.5m. With the emergence of Cambiasso and Joaquin's stated desire to join the team, Makelele may head elsewhere.

Keane and Vieira are both more balanced players. I think the midfield is the last thing Manchester United should be worrying about.

 

[Neil Thomson]

With Keano and Butt out we're being forced to play Phil Neville as defensive midfielder, and I'd prefer anything to that, but I can't see Makelele being third choice DM and playing in the reserves!

 

[Gio]

Under-rated player, very effective. He wouldn't 3rd choice DM at Utd anyway. (behind Butt?)

 

[Hawkeye]

MANCHESTER United are poised to swoop for Real Madrid's French World Cup winner Claude Makelele.

Speculation has been mounting that the French World Cup midfielder will leave the Spanish giants over wage demands.

Makelele was a key member of the Madrid team that won the Champions League in Glasgow last May and is considered a vital player in coach Vicente Del Bosque's side.

But he is unhappy with the new contract he has been offered by the club, which falls far short of the money earned by superstars Ronaldo, Luis Figo and Raul.

Makelele has been promised £1.5m a year but he is holding out for £3m, while the top earners at the club are taking home £6m.

Makelele, a former Celta Vigo player, joined Real in 2000 and is a competitive ball winner who can also offer skill and pace going forward.

He would create strong competition in United's midfield with Roy Keane out injured until the new year and also facing a five-match suspension.

Rumours have been rife among many of Europe's top clubs, including Inter Milan and Juventus, that Makelele will be on his way once the transfer window re-opens at the end of the year.

Adamant

The player himself has also not ruled out the possibility: "If I leave Real Madrid and I stress if, it would only be for another great club not just any club," said the Frenchman.

But while the club is believed to be prepared to accept £7m for the player, outwardly they are adamant that he will stay.

"He is not for sale," said Real's director of football, Jorge Valdano, "He is a player very important to us."

Brazilian striker Mario Jardel is another player to be linked with a move to United once the transfer merry-go-round is back in full swing.

According to his agent, Jose Veiga, Jardel is looking to leave Sporting Lisbon following a rocky relationship with the Portuguese giants, and Veiga claims that United have expressed an interest in the 29-year-old.

Barcelona are also in the running to sign the star, following a thwarted attempt in the summer.

 

[Neil Thomson]

TribalFootball:
Manchester United are closing in on Real Madrid midfielder Claude Makelele.
United's midfield crisis and lack of steel has convinced boss Sir Alex Ferguson to move for the French international, who recently saw talks over an extension to his Real contract collapse.

Makelele's contract runs to 2005, but it's understood Real are prepared to sell the midfielder in January for around £7 million.

Spanish press reports stated last week that United and Real had opened talks about a New Year's deal and negotiations were already at an advanced stage.


Might be a good idea to get him, if we get rid of Veron. But I still reckon we're being used by his agent to get a better contract at Real.

 

[Red Indian Chief Torn Rubber]

feck you and HIM. That guy is worse than PHIL NEVILLE. You can ever think of having that horse shit as a replacement for VERON

 

[mikhail]

Horse shit? Worse than Phil Neville? <img src="graemlins/houllier.gif" border="0" alt="[Houllier]" />
Sorry, but you're underestimating this guy to the same extent that people outside England underestimate Keano.
Not of course to imply that Makalele is half the player Keane is, but he is undoubtedly one of Madrid's most consistant players. United were built on a midfield of Giggs, Scholes and Beckham attacking, and Keane covering the back and distributing.
Madrid have built their midfield on on a similar principle, with Makalele covering the back and providing that vital link between defence and attack. Of course Zidane takes over most of the distribution, but that midfield reminds me of Veron and Butt. Only with Zidane.
Anyway, while I rate the guy, I wouldn't ever replace Veron with him, and when Keane and Butt return for injury you would have a rediculous level of squad depth in one place. The money will be used elsewhere in January. Makalele will never wear a United shirt. Unless of course he buys a replica jersey.