Incoming Madrid coach Bernd Schuster has apparently
declared an interest in midfielder Francesc Fabregas and winger
Jose Antonio Reyes, both of Arsenal.
Spanish sports daily Marca claims that Bernd Schuster, in his
capacity as nearly-coach at Real Madrid, is after Arsenal pair
Francesc Fabregas and Jose Antonio Reyes.
Reyes is well-known at the Bernabeu already, having spent a mixed
season on loan at los Blancos in the last campaign, making fourteen
starts and scoring six goals. Unsettled at Arsenal, this loan move
was a chance for him to gain some much-needed first team action at
the highest level.
It came after a difficult time at Arsenal, for whom he signed from
Sevilla in 2004. After a great start to his career, he tailed off
in 2005 before recovering somewhat for the 2005-06 European
campaign. Yet still he found adjustment to London life difficult.
Real Madrid were sniffing around the unsettled player - much to the
continued chagrin of Arsene Wenger - and made a loan move for him
after he sat out Arsenal's European tie against Dynamo Zagreb to
allow him to compete in Europe for the Blancos.
Wenger is reportedly angry at Real Madrid's consistent meddling
through the media, and would point to Jose's signing a six-year
deal back in 2005 as evidence that he has plans for Reyes in his
Arsenal team. Further, Wenger declared last summer's £8.1m bid from
city rivals Atletico as an "insult", signalling that it would take
a massive offer to seal any deal from any side, let alone Real
Madrid.
Nonetheless, there has allegedly been contact between the two clubs
regarding a possible increased transfer fee for the player, meaning
that Reyes could try once more for a permanent move to the Madrid
giants. Jose would most likely leap at the chance, at least if his
2005 declaration - made during a prank phone call from a Spanish
radio station - that he'd like to leave London for Madrid is
anything to go by.
However, the odds of landing Fabregas seem much lower. Arsenal have
already parted with prize asset Thierry Henry this summer, and
losing a rising star of a midfielder would perhaps be too much for
boss Wenger - and the fans - to bear. Cesc has settled in well at
Arsenal and seems unlikely to want to leave right away.
What's more, Francesc has established himself as a first-teamer and
a Spanish internationalist in his four years in the Gunners' first
team, and is clearly seen as a future world-class player by Wenger
and his assistants. Reyes' star may be dimming over the Emirates,
but Cesc's is set to burn brighter.
