The latest transfer gossip, rumours and damned lies
Rafael van der Vaart to Liverpool
The Times say that Liverpool are ready to make an offer for the Dutchman who is valued at around £10m. But the paper immediately dismisses its own claim by noting that Senor Benitez has nearly exhausted his transfer funds.
The Spoiler truth-o-meter: The Real Madrid attacking midfielder (and his WAG) would be welcome additions to the Premier League, but surely financial constrictions will deny him a move to Anfield.
Joleon Lescott to Manchester City. Maybe.
David Moyes has dropped the want-away defender from his Europa League squad, citing a poor attitude following the embarrassing defeat to Arsenal at the weekend. The Everton manager now seems a little more open to the prospect of Lescott moving on, telling the Guardian that “the price we have been offered is not close to our valuation.” Said valuation is understood to be around £30m. The Spoiler truth-o-meter: Clearly, Lescott is no longer a positive influence
While Real Madrid have been busy signing Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka and co, the Big Four have so far captured Thomas Vermaelen, Ross Turnbull, Daniel Sturridge, Glen Johnson, Antonio Valencia and, probably, Michael Owen.
With all the big names heading over to Spain, the Premier League’s elite have been forced to adopt a different strategy this summer, as shown by the unusually high number of English players being bought.
The arrival of the galacticos has left plenty of talented players at Real Madrid looking for new clubs, some potentially capable of doing a job for one of the Premier League’s title challengers.
The Spoiler wants you to pick which one of the men reportedly made available by Florentino Perez last month would be your first choice. To avoid sitting on the fence, we’d probably go for Wesley Sneijder:
Would you rather share a shower with 10 men, or this woman?
That was the question facing Rafael van der Vaart, back in the days when he was playing for Hamburg in Germany. No prizes for guessing which option Rafael chose.
Former Hamburg manager Huub Stevens has revealed in his autobiography that Van der Vaart once deliberately got booked so he could go and party with his lovely missus, Sylvie. Fair enough - just look at her.
Before Hamburg’s game at home to Duisburg last season, Stevens said to his assistant: “Van der Vaart will deliberately pick up a fifth yellow card. His wife is celebrating her 30th birthday and he wants to be there.”
Stevens was proved right. Van der Vaart was booked for kicking the ball away after the ref had blown his whistle. Job done.
Three days later the team played Hertha in Berlin – without the suspended Rafael, who was busy drinking champagne at his wife’s party.
Spoiler bonus! A free Sylvie van der Vaart YouTube clip…
Ronaldo may have to face up to his big scary boss after all
In contrast with his normal propensity to stir the Cristiano Ronaldo transfer broth, Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon has insisted brand new £11.8m midfielder Rafael van der Vaart represents the club’s only venture into the transfer market this summer:
“We are certain that he will be a player who will help us complement the already very strong squad we have.
“He is the first and almost certainly the last signing we will make this season.“
With this news, it looks as though the prostitutes of Spain will have to wait for at least another year before they get their huge Ronaldo-based windfall…
After Abbey Clancy’s convincing victory in the transatlantic WAG battle yesterday, the penultimate round sees a former NFL cheerleader take on a TV presenter whose marriage to Rafael van der Vaart was broadcast live on Dutch television…
The number seven shirt is considered the most prestigious at Old Trafford, having been worn previously by the likes of George Best, Bryan Robson, Eric Cantona and David Beckham.
Cristiano Ronaldo was supposed to be the next great player to achieve legend status wearing the number with which he has become obsessed, but it looks like he has craned his extraordinarily long neck in the direction of Madrid.
Paddy Power still make Ronaldo 5/4 favourite to be wearing the shirt next season, while the second favourite is for nobody to inherit the number for the coming campaign should the 42-goal Portuguese leave: say what you will about Ronny’s performance over the season just past, but he surely hasn’t done enough to have his number retired.
With no British presence, you’ll need something to look at
It was the 2006 World Cup that really embedded the concept of Waggery deep into the conscience of this tiny island we all share, yet this summer, Posh, Cheryl et al will not be spending their time in the finest hard plastic seats Switzerland and Austria have to offer. Thanks, Mr McClaren.
This does not mean, however, that the stands will be devoid of eye candy - far from it. Sylvie (above), wife of Holland’s Rafael van der Vaart, will be just one of many devastatingly beautiful WAGs who will have pitch side snappers aiming their long lenses in the opposite direction to Dirk Kuyt.
Click here for more pictures of Sylvie van der Vaart, and check out the rest of Euro 2008’s hottest WAGs after the jump
Loading ...