After spending 119 million euros (161.33 million dollars) this
summer on buying eight players, Real Madrid are keen to recuperate
some of that money by selling Julio Baptista.
According to Marca on Friday, Real's asking price for the powerful
Brazilian midfielder will be 20 million euros (27.11 million
dollars), though they would be prepared to accept 15 million (20.34
million dollars).
Baptista, 26, was signed by Real from Sevilla for 21 million euros
(28.47 million dollars) in July 2005, but was hardly used by the
whites. Last season he was loaned out to Arsenal but failed to
really adapt to the Premier League.
Real are also trying to loan out left-back Marcelo, 19, who has
hardly played since being signed from Fluminese eight months
ago.
Newly-promoted Valladolid are the club best positioned to take
Marcelo on loan.
Valladolid have already taken eight players on loan for this
season. They have spent just 1.3 million euros (1.76 million
dollars) on transfers, the lowest amount in La Liga.
