Real Madrid were imbeciles (typically) and didn't renew his contract. He moved to Inter on a free and matured into one of the world's best midfielders.

Goes against the grain insofar as players usually move to Inter wit big reputations and quickly lose all their quality. Ever since 2004 that seems to have stopped happening.

Real are still imbecile's now. How the hell did they let Mata go? On a free as well!

Just looking around the league, some of the better prospects around are former Madrid players.

Eto'o, Mata, Negredo, Granero and Borja Valero at West Brom to name but a few.

Arbeloa, Diego Lopez...

Real Madrid are apparently willing to pay £20 million plus Rafael Van Der Vaart to capture winger Ashley Young. Although Aston Villa have put a £30 million price tag on his head.

If I were Villa I'd take that deal Young ain't worth that. Van der Vaart is top quality.

Aye it is a very good deal for Villa. van der Vaart is quality and started off at Real really well scoring 4 goals in the first month. But since the team has been out of form, it has affected his own form also. Juande Ramos has been playing him off the bench also. Which he isn't happy about either.

Not surprised he ain't happy he is a great player.

I think thats one of the things that Real Madrid are seriously missing. A quality striker with genuine pace. They have Drenthe and Robben who are fast but not the best attacking players around. Eto'o would be a quality signing but there is no chance in hell, him ever going back to Madrid.

Is Huntelaar fast because they have signed him or did he just look fast playing in the Dutch league

Tbh I have no idea if he is fast or not?

barca go 10 points clear, almeria sack their manager, osasuna belt getafe for 5 and despite drawing sevilla finish the year 2nd
roll on 2009