Real Madrid Put McManaman Up for Sale
August 9, 2000 - 0:0
TEHRAN Real Madrid have put English international midfielder Steve McManaman up for sale, Spanish sports daily Marca reported Tuesday.
McManaman, 28, is considered surplus to requirements following the record signing of Portuguese star Luis Figo from Barcelona for 56 million dollars and Frenchman Claude Makelele from Celta Vigo.
With McManaman earning a reported four million dollars a year, he would be an expensive luxury on the substitutes' bench for a club with debts amounting to 241 million dollars and Real need to offload him to help cut their wage bill, AFP reported.
"I've informed Steve of the situation and that he has very few chances of playing this season," Real Coach Vincente del Bosque told Marca.
Even though he still has four years of his contract to run and has made it known he would be happy to stay, McManaman would prefer to stay in Spain than return to England.
But news of his availability is likely to interest his former club Liverpool and rivals Manchester United.
Aston Villa and Middlesbrough, who have already snapped up McManaman's former Real teammate and close friend Christian Karembeu, are also known to be interested and are both prepared to pay the estimated 10 million dollar asking fee.
McManaman, 28, is considered surplus to requirements following the record signing of Portuguese star Luis Figo from Barcelona for 56 million dollars and Frenchman Claude Makelele from Celta Vigo.
With McManaman earning a reported four million dollars a year, he would be an expensive luxury on the substitutes' bench for a club with debts amounting to 241 million dollars and Real need to offload him to help cut their wage bill, AFP reported.
"I've informed Steve of the situation and that he has very few chances of playing this season," Real Coach Vincente del Bosque told Marca.
Even though he still has four years of his contract to run and has made it known he would be happy to stay, McManaman would prefer to stay in Spain than return to England.
But news of his availability is likely to interest his former club Liverpool and rivals Manchester United.
Aston Villa and Middlesbrough, who have already snapped up McManaman's former Real teammate and close friend Christian Karembeu, are also known to be interested and are both prepared to pay the estimated 10 million dollar asking fee.