Sneijder: I can be a useful addition
Real Madrid midfielder Wesley Sneijder has reiterated his desire to remain at the Bernabeu this season, saying the fans want him to stay in the Spanish capital.The playmaker has made 52 league appearances - netting 11 times - since joining the Madridistas in 2007.
However, following the expensive acquisitions of Kaka, Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Alvaro Arbeloa and Xabi Alonso, Real are open to offers for Dutch quintet Sneijder, Rafael van der Vaart, Arjen Robben, Roysten Drenthe and Ruud van Nistelrooy, while Klaas-Jan Huntelaar has already joined AC Milan.
Sneijder - who has been capped 53 times by his country - has been linked with moves to Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, Aston Villa, Manchester United and Inter Milan.
And it is the latter who are reportedly in pole position to snare him, with the Nerazzurri believed to be close to agreeing a €7 million deal to take Sneijder on loan for the season, with the option to make the move permanent for an added €13 million next summer.
But the Dutchman has revealed he has no intention to leave Madrid, and says he still has a lot to offer the club in 2009/10 as they bid to match Barcelona's treble-winning exploits of last season.
"I do consider other options, you have to be realistic," he told Sportweek.
"But I do plan to stay. After September 1 they can't get rid of me anymore and my chances will return.
"I feel that I can be valuable to this team. The trainer appreciates me, he told me that.
"I still think this is the most beautiful club there is. The fans want me to stay as well."
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Gregg Davies is the Chief Sub Editor of FourFourTwo magazine, joining the team in January 2008 and spending seven years working on the website. He supports non-league behemoths Hereford and commentates on Bulls matches for Radio Hereford FC. His passions include chocolate hobnobs and attempting to shoehorn Ronnie Radford into any office conversation.