Former Premier League goal machine opts for Bundesliga move.

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Real Madrid

Real Madrid striker Ruud van Nistelrooy has joined Hamburg on an 18-month deal, the German club have announced.
The former Manchester United forward, 33, had been linked with moves to several Premier League clubs including West Ham and Tottenham Hotspur.
Spurs were keen to sign him but balked at his wage demands, while West Ham were reportedly rejected by the player.
The Dutchman was out of favour at Real and keen to secure first-team football ahead of this year’s World Cup finals.
Hamburg coach Bruno Labbadia said: “Ruud has proven his qualities at some of Europe’s top clubs. I’m convinced that he will score some important goals for us.”
Van Nistelrooy said: “I am really happy that it has worked out. I had great talks with both [Hamburg president] Bernd Hoffmann and Bruno Labbadia and had a very positive impression from the very beginning.”
With Van Nistelrooy seeking a weekly salary of around £100,000, Spurs boss Harry Redknapp was forced to end his interest.

“We don’t pay that type of wage,” he said. “It would break our wage structure by an awful long way. The chairman runs a good business and wouldn’t pay that sort of money.” (BBC Sport)

So the clamour is over, Ruud Van Nistlerooy’s excessive wage demands scared off Tottenham and perhaps Liverpool didn’t actually want the Real Madrid man and that left Bundesliga side Hamburg with a chance of snapping up the veteran striker.

Anfield’s need for a new striking option is clearly more pressing than it was at White Hart Lane and one can see why Harry Redknapp decided not to pay through the teeth for the 33 year old.

The former Manchester United seemed keen to move away from the Bernabeu after seeing his chances of first team football at the La Liga giants ebbing away as a new set of Galaticos arrive at the club. He will be hoping to push Hamburg towards the front runners in the Bundesliga and may well be the spark the side needs to keep up with a resurgent Bayern Munich and unbeaten Bayer Leverkusen.

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