Real aim to get their man - can Liverpool hold onto him?
Moderators: BillShankly, arxidi, ruud, Judge Judy, Forum Admins
-
- Team Manager
- Posts: 7554
- Joined: Tue Oct 02, 2007 1:03 pm
- Has thanked: 10 times
- Been thanked: 34 times
Real aim to get their man - can Liverpool hold onto him?
Be afraid, Liverpool fans. Real Madrid are after Raheem Sterling and they ALWAYS get their man
Sep 23, 2014 22:31 by Martin Lipton
From Di Stefano and Puskas to Ronaldo, Bale and Rodriguez, history tells us the Kop club may be powerless to hang onto their teenage star, writes Martin Lipton
John Powell
Mission impossible? Liverpool face a long losing battle to hang onto Raheem Sterling
They are football’s White Shadow. The club that does not understand the meaning of the word ‘No’. Who do whatever it takes to get their man.
From Alfredo Di Stefano and Ferenc Puskas in the 1950s, through persuading Luis Figo to leave Barcelona at the beginning of Real Madrid’s ‘Galactico’ era, which saw Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos and David Beckham all seduced to move to the Spanish capital.
In recent years, it has been the same story.
Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Luka Modric, Gareth Bale and James Rodriguez all ending up at the ‘White House’.
Now it seems Europe’s latest talent is on the Madrid agenda.
And history tells us even Liverpool may prove powerless to keep Raheem Sterling at Anfield.
As Real’s interest in bringing Sterling to the Bernabeu emerged on Tuesday night, a familiar pattern was starting to emerge.
First, information is leaked.
Then, current Real players, when asked to comment, suggest the target would be perfect for the Bernabeu.
Drip by drip.
Mentions of Real’s status, their financial power and history. Followed by the end game. The formal bid miles under the player’s true value, behind-the-scenes contact with agents, agitation and finally a signature and presentation.
Of course Madrid’s pursuit of Sterling may not end with flashlights in a Bernabeu suite.
Liverpool’s resolve, stiffened by the wrangle which eventually cost them Luis Suarez, will be huge. Sterling has shown no signs of wanting to leave the Reds.
But Real are remorseless.
In Florentino Perez, they have a president who knows the dark arts. And while the past does not determine the future, it often signposts how events materialise.
Perez showed his hand for the first time in 2000.
When he promised in his election campaign that he would bring Figo with him, it was met with derision. By the time the summer was out, Barcelona fans were planning their ‘pig’s head’ protest for the Portuguese winger.
Perez was forced out after six years in 2006. But when he returned three years later, he had honed his tactics.
For two seasons, Real coveted Ronaldo, despite his pledges of allegiance to Manchester United. But within a fortnight of his second coronation, at which he suggested, “It would be good if he came to Real”, Perez not only broke the world transfer record to land Kaka, he smashed it again for the Portuguese superstar.
Sometimes, they can be held at bay. But not for ever. Ask Daniel Levy.
The Tottenham chairman could argue that he got the maximum for Modric and Bale. But he still sold them both.
Brendan Rodgers, bruised this summer by Suarez, will know how Andre Villas-Boas felt in 2013.
Keeping Real at bay over Sterling will be an even greater challenge.
I can"t see Liverpool going down without a fight in this case - watch out for a new contract announcement before the next transfer window opens!
Sep 23, 2014 22:31 by Martin Lipton
From Di Stefano and Puskas to Ronaldo, Bale and Rodriguez, history tells us the Kop club may be powerless to hang onto their teenage star, writes Martin Lipton
John Powell
Mission impossible? Liverpool face a long losing battle to hang onto Raheem Sterling
They are football’s White Shadow. The club that does not understand the meaning of the word ‘No’. Who do whatever it takes to get their man.
From Alfredo Di Stefano and Ferenc Puskas in the 1950s, through persuading Luis Figo to leave Barcelona at the beginning of Real Madrid’s ‘Galactico’ era, which saw Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos and David Beckham all seduced to move to the Spanish capital.
In recent years, it has been the same story.
Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Luka Modric, Gareth Bale and James Rodriguez all ending up at the ‘White House’.
Now it seems Europe’s latest talent is on the Madrid agenda.
And history tells us even Liverpool may prove powerless to keep Raheem Sterling at Anfield.
As Real’s interest in bringing Sterling to the Bernabeu emerged on Tuesday night, a familiar pattern was starting to emerge.
First, information is leaked.
Then, current Real players, when asked to comment, suggest the target would be perfect for the Bernabeu.
Drip by drip.
Mentions of Real’s status, their financial power and history. Followed by the end game. The formal bid miles under the player’s true value, behind-the-scenes contact with agents, agitation and finally a signature and presentation.
Of course Madrid’s pursuit of Sterling may not end with flashlights in a Bernabeu suite.
Liverpool’s resolve, stiffened by the wrangle which eventually cost them Luis Suarez, will be huge. Sterling has shown no signs of wanting to leave the Reds.
But Real are remorseless.
In Florentino Perez, they have a president who knows the dark arts. And while the past does not determine the future, it often signposts how events materialise.
Perez showed his hand for the first time in 2000.
When he promised in his election campaign that he would bring Figo with him, it was met with derision. By the time the summer was out, Barcelona fans were planning their ‘pig’s head’ protest for the Portuguese winger.
Perez was forced out after six years in 2006. But when he returned three years later, he had honed his tactics.
For two seasons, Real coveted Ronaldo, despite his pledges of allegiance to Manchester United. But within a fortnight of his second coronation, at which he suggested, “It would be good if he came to Real”, Perez not only broke the world transfer record to land Kaka, he smashed it again for the Portuguese superstar.
Sometimes, they can be held at bay. But not for ever. Ask Daniel Levy.
The Tottenham chairman could argue that he got the maximum for Modric and Bale. But he still sold them both.
Brendan Rodgers, bruised this summer by Suarez, will know how Andre Villas-Boas felt in 2013.
Keeping Real at bay over Sterling will be an even greater challenge.
I can"t see Liverpool going down without a fight in this case - watch out for a new contract announcement before the next transfer window opens!
The older I get the better I was.
FOOTBALL IS LIFE
The Rest Is Just Details
FOOTBALL IS LIFE
The Rest Is Just Details
Re: Real aim to get their man - can Liverpool hold onto him?
Real always get their man? Weren't they after Gerrard a few years ago?
Re: Real aim to get their man - can Liverpool hold onto him?
As long as they pay overs everyone is dispensable.
-
- Team Manager
- Posts: 7554
- Joined: Tue Oct 02, 2007 1:03 pm
- Has thanked: 10 times
- Been thanked: 34 times
Re: Real aim to get their man - can Liverpool hold onto him?
Stuckey wrote:Real always get their man? Weren't they after Gerrard a few years ago?
Yes but they changed their mind and bought someone better - can't remember his name though.
The older I get the better I was.
FOOTBALL IS LIFE
The Rest Is Just Details
FOOTBALL IS LIFE
The Rest Is Just Details
Re: Real aim to get their man - can Liverpool hold onto him?
I'm thinking Xavi Alonso but I'm sure that Real were after Gerrard well before they went after Xavi Alonso.Old Master wrote:Stuckey wrote:Real always get their man? Weren't they after Gerrard a few years ago?
Yes but they changed their mind and bought someone better - can't remember his name though.
Re: Real aim to get their man - can Liverpool hold onto him?
The Kop wrote:As long as they pay overs everyone is dispensable.
So Rodgers can wisely invest another 100 mill
Re: Real aim to get their man - can Liverpool hold onto him?
Woudln't knock back 100m!!......Derek wrote:The Kop wrote:As long as they pay overs everyone is dispensable.
So Rodgers can wisely invest another 100 mill
- Jonny Lidon
- Bench Warmer
- Posts: 947
- Joined: Thu Nov 12, 2009 3:08 pm
- God is an Englishman
- Board Member
- Posts: 51452
- Joined: Fri May 08, 2009 5:31 pm
- Has thanked: 24 times
- Been thanked: 85 times
Re: Real aim to get their man - can Liverpool hold onto him?
I remember when they wanted mcmanaman and woodgate.
-
- Assistant Coach
- Posts: 19380
- Joined: Mon Jul 20, 2009 10:55 am
- Been thanked: 112 times
Re: Real aim to get their man - can Liverpool hold onto him?
They might buy Ozil from youDerek wrote:The Kop wrote:As long as they pay overs everyone is dispensable.
So Rodgers can wisely invest another 100 mill
"The game is about glory, doing things in style and with a flourish, going out and beating the other lot, not waiting for them to die of boredom."Victor Meldrew wrote:A decent govt..... like uk.
Danny Blanchflower
Re: Real aim to get their man - can Liverpool hold onto him?
Come on NOC, he scored and assisted on the weekend
-
- Assistant Coach
- Posts: 19380
- Joined: Mon Jul 20, 2009 10:55 am
- Been thanked: 112 times
Re: Real aim to get their man - can Liverpool hold onto him?
I could have scored a hatty against SenderosDerek wrote:Come on NOC, he scored and assisted on the weekend
"The game is about glory, doing things in style and with a flourish, going out and beating the other lot, not waiting for them to die of boredom."Victor Meldrew wrote:A decent govt..... like uk.
Danny Blanchflower
- El Capitano
- Star Player
- Posts: 4226
- Joined: Wed Apr 19, 2006 8:29 am
Re: Real aim to get their man - can Liverpool hold onto him?
Liverpool could replace Sterling with that other up and coming youngster from West Ham.
Feel Good Inc.