Can we still hate Madrid if Roman play for them?

Just when we were getting ready for the Copa final, VIPNERD from Bigsoccer brought us this disturbing news.

I have insisted in the past weeks/months that Riquelme wouldn't leave Boca and that he would put pressure til the end to see a renew of his loan at Boca.

In the past few weeks, interests from Atletico Maddrid and also an offer to Valencia had been rested aside. But ...

The only club I always considered that could tempt Roman to move was Real Madrid. It could be a personal "revenge' of some sort after his fiasco at Barza. I recall the respect he received from Zidane at a RM v Villa, in Zidane's last game at the Bernabeu. It showed the mutual admiration between both ... and something that would tempt Roman to emulate, to be Real's conductor.

Radio Marca has just confirmed Real's approach. Roman won't answer until after the final of the Copa America. Villarreal would get around 13 million Euros and the player would get a good increase to his salary. what is more important, Schuster admires Argentine footie and has always wanted to coach there. To the addition of Gago and Higuain, Saviola is close to signing. And now that Getafe has bought Ustari, there are strong rumours that Schuster would bring Abbondanzieri as the sub goalie.

More soon.

News article about the match between Villarreal y Real Madrid.


My 2 cents.

If Roman wants titles, Real Madrid can give him that. It's not too late for him to become a legend there. And from Real Madrid's point of view, they have everybody except an enganche. If Bernd Schuster really wants a copy of the Argentine 4-3-1-2, then Roman is the ideal choice, and a definite possibility...

The other issue is Roman's contract with Villarreal. Many are saying Roman doesn't care about Villar anymore, I beg to be different. Villar couldn't afford him, and Roman understood that. Him going back to Boca was a move that temporarily satisfied both Riquelme and Villar's immediate needs.
If Roman stay with Boca, Boca can afford his salary but will not want to pay the transfer fee to buy him off. Nor do they want to keep paying Villar the loan money. Villarreal on the other hand isn't exactly happy with the £10m+ potential transfer fee tied up with Roman, but at least satisfied with the loan payment.

Roman said he wouldn't play for anyone but Boca or Villar. That means he still cares about the submarino. If he sees a fitting transfer that will relieve both clubs from the peculiar financial entanglement, I think he will do it.

I have quoted VIPNERD in an earlier post, also about Roman's club career.