This would be one hell of a signing!

Joie Rafael VAN DER VAART

Rafael van der Vaart could spark a scrap for his signature after being told he could leave Real Madrid for free.
The Holland international is looking for a new club after the La Liga giants said he would be offloaded for around £10million, but a top football lawyer says he can go for nothing.

Madrid have not given a squad number to the 26-year-old, who has been linked to Chelsea and Liverpool, which has been interpreted by the international players’ union as not respecting his contract.

FIFPro lawyer Wil van Megen said: ‘It’s obvious that Real is not planning to let Van der Vaart play and does not want to make use of his services anymore.
‘He even did not get a player’s number for the new season. In such a case they should let him walk away for free.

Battle: Van der Vaart’s wife Sylvie is continuing her treatment for breast cancer
‘Apparently he’s worth nothing to them, so why should they ask a transfer fee? (Daily Mail)

I think this lawyer may be a little naive when it comes to transfer dealings. Just because a player is literally not of any use to a club that doesn’t mean, legally or otherwise, that he will be allowed to leave for nothing as that would be a very stupid situation indeed.

However it does seem that of the Dutch contingent at the Bernabeu Rafael Van der Vaart is the most likely to be allowed to leave. Klaas Jan Huntelaar has already fled the La Liga giants and Wesley Sneijder may well also be on his way to Inter Milan on loan but Arjen Robben appears to have a new lease of life at the club and Ruud Van Nistelrooy still wants to prove a point at the club but Rafael doesn’t even have a squad number which is the ultimate slap in the face and shows the remarkable fall from grace for the player who lit up Euro 2008 and found himself the subject of much speculation before opting for a move to Real Madrid from Hamburg.

He could more than ably fit into the Liverpool midfield and if Rafa has money to spend then if he could get the Dutchman for £10m, then that would be a bargain buy in my view.

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