Seedorf Link to Real's Zidane Hopes
Published: April 29, 1999
Real Madrid have not given up hope of bringing Zinedine Zidane to Spain in
the summer. Club president Lorenzo Sanz has been in discussions with
Juventus about the future of Real's Dutch international midfielder Clarence
Seedorf and is willing to exchange the player for Zidane.
Juventus still want to keep the French star but his performances this
season have not been good for the Turin club and coach Carlo Ancelotti is
prepared to see Zidane move on if he can bring in reinforcements. The
Frenchman's level of consistency has become unpredictable and Juve are
looking for solutions to the problem.
Real Madrid have offered two transfer deals to tempt the Italian champions.
The first sees
Seedorf move back to Italy - he is a former Sampdoria player - and Zidane
come to the Spanish capital in part exchange for the Dutchman plus a cash
fee of around �6 million.
Alternatively Brazilian star Roberto Carlos is used as the bait to bring
Zidane to Real and the money involved to top up the deal rises to �10
million. Real have also offered Yugoslav striker Pedrag Mijatovic in place
of Carlos but the Juventus executives rate the left sided defender as more
useful to them.
The more likely plan will see Seedorf join Juventus with cash and Uruguayan
defender Paolo Montero heading the other way. The Real board have lost
patience with
Seedorf's constant complaining and seem set to follow coach John Toshack's
advice and move him out of the club as soon as possible.
Seedorf has already been offered to Newcastle, SS Lazio and Arsenal but
none were keen to spend the money Real wanted on a known disruptive
influence.
Juve's Seedorf plan would see doubts rise again about the future of Edgar
Davids and Didier Deschamps in Turin rise again with Premiership clubs very
interested in both players.
