Rafael Van Der Vaart: £13M Dutch Master the Perfect Boost for Liverpool Title Challenge
Rafael van der Vaart has confirmed he will be leaving Real Madrid this summer and has this week launched a ‘come and get me’ plea to big clubs in the top four leagues in Europe after rejecting old club Ajax. Real Madrid are reportedly looking to recoup the amount they paid for the creative star which is a figure of roughly £13m which is not much in relation to some of the highly expensive moves so far this summer.
Van der Vaart confirmed reports he had rejected a move back to Amsterdam when he revealed, “Martin Jol has already contacted me, but I do not intend to return to my former team.”
“My dream is to play in a major championship, namely England, Spain, Italy or Germany. Other proposals from abroad do not interest me.”
The player’s stock has definitely fallen since his move to La Liga but the Dutchman would surely be the ideal man to replace the likes of Xabi Alonso at Liverpool who was sorely missed in the Reds first game. Without the slick passing of the Spaniard, last season’s runners-up looked devoid of ideas to help free both Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres. Alberto Aquliani has been brought in to provide a similar service but he is currently out through injury and his record is not good. If Liverpool are not to lose more ground on their rivals in the opening few weeks of the season, a creative player is needed.
The multi-million pound arrivals of Kaka, Cristiano Ronaldo, Raul Albiol and Karim Benzema has led to Real needing to recoup some of their incredible outlay by selling a number of fringe players. Van der Vaart is one of those which suggests a deal would not be too difficult to negotiate.
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
Van der Vaart began his Real career with 4 goals in his first 4 games including a goal on his debut against Numancia and a hat-trick against Sporting Gijon. However, since then the Dutch playmaker failed to score and was increasingly relegated to substitute appearances. The €13 million summer signing played 32 league games for the Spanish champions but only started 15.
Apart from starting the two final league games of the season, his previous last full 90 minutes came in a Copa Del Rey match v Real Union in November and his last full game in La Liga was way back in September, hence his frustration. After all, in 3 seasons for Hamburg he started 72 of his 74 league appearances and scored 29 goals.
Prior to leaving Hamburg his manager Martin Jol had this to say about his star player, “He is one of the best five play-makers in Europe and he dictates the rhythm of Hamburg.”
That’s high praise indeed but the 26-year-old had proven to be a huge hit both in his homeland with Ajax and in the Bundesliga with Hamburg.
The 2007/08 season was the Dutchman’s most prolific campaign in 3 seasons in Germany. He scored a total of 12 goals in 29 League appearances taking his overall League tally for Hamburg to an impressive 29 goals in 74 appearances. Not bad for a playmaking attacking midfielder. This is a similar scoring rate to the one he enjoyed with Ajax where Van der Vaart scored a total of 52 goals in 117 League appearances. This record includes the 2002/03 season when the Dutch international scored a staggering 18 goals in 21 League appearances. The diminutive playmaker has also got a decent scoring record at international level for Holland after netting 15 goals in 69 games. This includes a goal in the recent 2-2 draw with England in Amsterdam where the midfielder played the first half with Holland winning 2-0.
The Dutch star certainly has all the attributes to be a major hit in the Premier League and at a mere £13m would surely be an absolute bargain for Liverpool who look in desperate need for more reinforcements. An added bonus is that he can play centrally, on either wing or as 2nd striker. Therefore, Steven Gerrard could drop back into Alonso’s old role and the Dutchman could play in the hole until Aquilani returns.
For £13m would you like your club to sign him? Let’s hear your views.
Tags: Ajax, Hamburg, Holland, Liverpool, Rafael Van der Vaart, Real Madrid
August 18th, 2009 at 08:50
wasn’t supposed that alonso was replaced by aquilani. benitez has a lot to answer for making wrong decisions in the transfer market instead of blaming referees and money funds
August 18th, 2009 at 08:50
rafa go buy him !!!
August 18th, 2009 at 08:58
If this is true i think we should sell lucas and voronin, and take funds and buy him!!!!!!
Cause lucas Suck!!!!!!!
Voronin is worse then before.
They dont deserve playing for Liverpool.
August 18th, 2009 at 09:26
Rafa go buy him he’s a great player and a bargain at £13m.
Get rid of the Americans tight fisted gits.
August 18th, 2009 at 09:28
yeah get rid of lucas if we wana win the title this year
August 18th, 2009 at 09:48
Real would even consider of letting him go for free. That would be the bargain of the summer!!!
August 18th, 2009 at 11:39
When will the penny drop about Lucas he is way out of his depth and very uncomfortable with possession - maybe he will come good but it’s not his time yet. we need creativity not another defender and we cannot fall 12 points behind waiting for Aquilani to get fit.
August 18th, 2009 at 12:17
This would be an great buy for just 13mil. The only thing is, do we have the money? I read that we only have 1.5mil left and if that’s the case we should sell Lucas to Corithans for about 8 or 9mil. Sell Voronin to Hertha Berlin for 4 mil. Buy VDV!
Come on Rafa!
YNWA
August 18th, 2009 at 13:16
I’m sorry but what is major problem with Lucas. He needs a decent run in side, he was signed as a box to box player, but yet was always asked to fill the role of one of our other world class midfielders in previous two seasons (which I think most players would have struggled to do to be fair) and he took the criticism of majority of fans on chin last season and came back stronger! I think he deserves a proper chance now! agree about the Vox in the Box tho he is a poor mans kuyt! I think there are other areas that need strengthening first
August 18th, 2009 at 21:51
will rafa listen to us? i hope so…. RVDV is a definite bargain… y rafa choose aquilani rather than him? huh..
August 18th, 2009 at 22:39
This is a player we should have bought many years ago - we were offered him when Hollier was in charge but he bought Diouf instead.
Rafa is nuts he’s just bought Aquilani a guy who has a worse injury record than Darren “Sicknote” Anderton.
Van Der Vaart will go for about £7m to £8m - bargain compared to Aquilani (and a better player too me thinks!)
Anyone remember the season after we finished 2nd under Houllier - watch this space!
August 19th, 2009 at 08:13
i wrote an article only 3 weeks ago all about liverpool and their title tilt and said after watching pre season friendlies they have 1 chance and thats no chance of winning the title now im very concerned about 4th place and champions league football and why ? il tell u why after that game against spurs what we had on the bench said it all but not only that just take a look at the average players in the starting 11 and my alarm bells were doing overtime babel lucas voronin the usual scapegoats but its a fact their simply just average now were going for a 30 year old centre back were in deep deep trouble stevie.g.knows it take a look at is face after the spurs game and at the end of the season raffa will know it and so will those yanks then what happens good by to torres and gerrard thats the biggest concern.
August 20th, 2009 at 07:54
Why don’t people wait to see Aquilani kick a ball before criticising him? His injury problem should be sorted now that Dr Waller has discovered the root of the problem. Totti was upset to see him leave Roma so he must be quite a good player.
I’m sure after seeing last nights performance people might be a bit more positive. All players played very well and Ngog got another goal for being in the right place at the right time. Lucas is improving, Ayala played well after the initial nerves died, Insua is making left back his own position, Johnson and Kuyt were class down the right, Mascherano, Gerrard, Torres, Carra and Reina were their usual and Benayoun was always a danger. I was watching and feeling very positive.
We have injuries at the moment which can happen to anyone and that was why the bench was poor on Saturday. Look at Utds last night. They had Darron Gibson and Ritchie de Laet on the bench and two players in their twilight years.
January 5th, 2010 at 20:03
Rafa…What is so wrong with ryan babbel? he is one of our most tallented yet underated youngsters, He is our key…Also, Please dont let go of our little marshel he keeps dicipline in our most important area and that is something rare which we posess. LUCAS CAN FALL OFF THE STARTING 11, but no need to let him go shame, he fights so hard for us…..Lovin emiliano insua!!! bt what abt fabio A?