Rafael van der vaart
Posted: Sun Jul 25, 2010 4:05 pmRafael van der Vaart is courting a move to either Chelsea or Liverpool, but only if he is guaranteed first-team football.
The Holland international, 27, was the subject of talks between the Reds and Real Madrid in April but a deal failed to materialise from the discussions.
Van der Vaart made just 31 domestic appearances for Real last season after failing to feature in Manuel Pellegrini's plans and is expected to be offloaded by Jose Mourinho, who succeeded the Chilean at the Bernabeu.
Injury curtailed the attacking midfielder's impact at this summer's World Cup despite making a substitute appearance in Holland's defeat to Spain in the final.
But after hearing that interest from Anfield has not waned in addition to that of the Premier League champions, van der Vaart is attempting to engineer a move to a club able to offer guarantees of regular first-team football but insists he will not remain in La Liga.
He said: "I have heard of the interest from Liverpool and Chelsea - and that is very flattering.
"If either of them were willing to offer me first-team football, I will be honest that it would be very hard for me to not listen to what they had to say.
"I think I have the relationship with Madrid where they understand my position and would let me hold talks.
"I expect the majority of transfers to be concluded in the next two weeks, and if Chelsea or Liverpool wanted to talk with me I would at the very least listen to what they have to say.
"They are both giants, and if they could offer first-team football it may prove impossible to turn down. Real Madrid is the most prestigious club in the world and I am happy here and also in Spain, but I am at the age where I have to be playing first-team football.
"I am getting to the point where I will be hitting my peak years and I need to spend those years at a club where I will be playing regularly. The boss knows how much he plans to use me, and if he is willing to listen to offers for me.
"I wouldn't be willing to play for any clubs in Spain out of respect for Madrid, so in my eyes the only other place to go would be the Premier League.
"It's the only league that competes with the standard of La Liga."
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The Holland international, 27, was the subject of talks between the Reds and Real Madrid in April but a deal failed to materialise from the discussions.
Van der Vaart made just 31 domestic appearances for Real last season after failing to feature in Manuel Pellegrini's plans and is expected to be offloaded by Jose Mourinho, who succeeded the Chilean at the Bernabeu.
Injury curtailed the attacking midfielder's impact at this summer's World Cup despite making a substitute appearance in Holland's defeat to Spain in the final.
But after hearing that interest from Anfield has not waned in addition to that of the Premier League champions, van der Vaart is attempting to engineer a move to a club able to offer guarantees of regular first-team football but insists he will not remain in La Liga.
He said: "I have heard of the interest from Liverpool and Chelsea - and that is very flattering.
"If either of them were willing to offer me first-team football, I will be honest that it would be very hard for me to not listen to what they had to say.
"I think I have the relationship with Madrid where they understand my position and would let me hold talks.
"I expect the majority of transfers to be concluded in the next two weeks, and if Chelsea or Liverpool wanted to talk with me I would at the very least listen to what they have to say.
"They are both giants, and if they could offer first-team football it may prove impossible to turn down. Real Madrid is the most prestigious club in the world and I am happy here and also in Spain, but I am at the age where I have to be playing first-team football.
"I am getting to the point where I will be hitting my peak years and I need to spend those years at a club where I will be playing regularly. The boss knows how much he plans to use me, and if he is willing to listen to offers for me.
"I wouldn't be willing to play for any clubs in Spain out of respect for Madrid, so in my eyes the only other place to go would be the Premier League.
"It's the only league that competes with the standard of La Liga."
LINK
