Real Madrid sign Dutch striker van Nistelrooy

[Deathclaw]

My opinion: RVN is going to go down with Old Trafford greats. I wish he hadn't fallen out with SAF, but with Rooney, Saha, and Rossi, plus with Smithy going back to striker, we have some great strikers. Rooney is the best striker in the world. Saha can be as good as RVN if he stays fit, and Rossi is one of the best young players. He's only 17 and will figure in to the United first team set up if Torres isn't signed.

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Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy will join Real Madrid from Manchester United on a three-year contract, the Primera Liga club said on Thursday.

The deal is reported by Spanish media to be worth around 15 million euros ($19.12 million).

'Real Madrid have reached an agreement with Manchester United for the signing of Ruud van Nistelrooy,' the Spanish club said in a statement.

'The player will take a medical on Friday morning and will be presented in the afternoon at 1700 GMT in the Bernabeu.'

The 30-year-old scored 150 goals for United since joining in 2001 for a then British record fee of ?19 million ($35.39 million).

He is Real's third signing under new president Ramon Calderon following on from Italy defender Fabio Cannavaro and Brazil midfielder Emerson, and will link up with former Manchester United team mate David Beckham.

Van Nistelrooy put in a transfer request two weeks ago and Real and Bayern Munich had been competing to secure his services for next season.

The Dutchman fell out of favour at United in the latter part of last season as manager Alex Ferguson increasingly looked to Louis Saha to partner Wayne Rooney in attack.

He was an unused substitute in United's 4-0 victory over Wigan in the League Cup final in February and stormed out of Old Trafford when he was left out of their final league match of the season against Charlton Athletic in May.

Van Nistelrooy, who has scored 28 goals in 54 games for Netherlands, found the net just once at the recent World Cup and was left on the bench by Dutch coach Marco van Basten during their second-round defeat against Portugal.

The Dutchman will face stiff competition from Raul, Robinho, Julio Baptista, Antonio Cassano and Ronaldo for a place in the Real attack, although his arrival is likely to hasten the departure of at least one of the forwards.

Real are in the process of trying to put together a team under new coach Fabio Capello which will help them win their first trophy in four seasons.

Van Nistelrooy started his career with Dutch sides Den Bosch and Heerenveen before joining PSV Eindhoven in 1998 where he scored an impressive 62 goals from 67 appearances.

United manager Ferguson continued with his bid to bring Van Nistelrooy to the club even after the striker failed a medical in April 2000 and then sustained a serious cruciate knee ligament injury while training with PSV a few days later.

He finally arrived in 2001 and repaid Ferguson's faith in him by scoring 36 goals in all competitions in his debut season.

He was the Premier League's leading scorer with 25 goals when United won the championship in 2003 and was also named PFA Player of the Year.

He has scored 20 goals or more in four of his five seasons at Old Trafford.

Van Nistelrooy is United's all-time top scorer in Europe, having surpassed Denis Law's long-standing record in September 2004 and is the fourth highest scorer in the European Cup, level on 47 goals with Portuguese great Eusebio.

[Almkman]

Rooney is not the best striker in the world.

[Deathclaw]

Rooney is not the best striker in the world.

Yes, he is. He has the ability to turn the game around single handedly. He checks back into his defensive third to win the ball. He's a workhorse. Henry is #2 in the world. He doesn't have the same impact on a game. He is rubbish for his country, he is only good for Arsenal. Rooney does so much more than Henry. Plus Henry plays for a crap club.

Rooney is just so outstanding. He came back from his red card misery for England and scored against Macclesfield today, and wore the armband for the first time for United. He's the future skipper.

Henry is a great player, but I honestly don't see how people can think he is better than Rooney. Rooney will be World Player of the Year in a few years, Henry won't ever gain that honor.

I think if you took a poll of people world wide, Rooney would gain more votes. Henry can be subbed into a game for Arsenal, and he doesn't have a big impact. Rooney comes on for United, and they may be down 1 nil, but they will end up on top 2-1 or at least level, because he comes on, works his magic, and leaves it all on the field.

[Almkman]

The only reason you think Henry is crap is because he plays for Arsenal.What about Schevchenko(sp?), didn't he get player of the year in 2004?

[Deathclaw]

The only reason you think Henry is crap is because he plays for Arsenal.What about Schevchenko(sp?), didn't he get player of the year in 2004?

I said Henry is crap for FRANCE. Which he is. He can never perform at the same level for France as he does for Arsenal. I never said that Henry is crap. He is an amazing player. But he is not as good as Rooney.

And about Shevchenko. Player of the Year in 2004. 2 years ago. Rooney was 17 and on Everton 2 years ago. Now he's 19, plays for the greatest club in the world, and is the best striker in the world.

[Almkman]

Greatest club, please.The last time Man U won the Premiership was in '03. And I believe it was Barcelona beating Arsenal for the UEFA Champions League trophy.

[Deathclaw]

Greatest club, please.The last time Man U won the Premiership was in '03. And I believe it was Barcelona beating Arsenal for the UEFA Champions League trophy.

Cup competitions don't bring out the best winner. Anything can happen in them. Ask anyone, and Barca are tons better than Arsenal.

United have the greatest history of any club in the world. And with Carrick in, United have a serious chance of dethroning Chelsea. The only reason the stupid rent boys won 2 EPL titles is because they have a Russian billionaire paying insane amounts of money for players. Overpaid for Shevchenko, Drogba (who is utter poo), etc., plus they tapped up 2 Leeds youngsters, and a third who remained at the club. And John Obi Mikel signed for United and Chelsea broke the rules to get him, but paid 16 million for him. They have no regard for the rules. This year, United can come back and win the title back.

And btw, you support Real Madrid if I am not mistaken? No major trophy in THREE YEARS. Real Madrid are crap because they can't play together. I do not see why players wish to play there. I would rather play for tons of other clubs over Madrid. Maybe Capello can turn things around, idk.

Arsenal lost Campbell, plus have 2 or 3 defenders out. Senderos is out for a couple months. They will not be in the top four this season, they didn't deserve 4th last season.

[Almkman]

Cup competitions don't bring out the best winner. Anything can happen in them. Ask anyone, and Barca are tons better than Arsenal.

And btw, you support Real Madrid if I am not mistaken? No major trophy in THREE YEARS. Real Madrid are crap because they can't play together. I do not see why players wish to play there. I would rather play for tons of other clubs over Madrid. Maybe Capello can turn things around, idk.

So by your statement, Italy is not the best team in the world.

I do support Real Madrid. And I agree with you about how they play. But they have too many players with ego problems that they can't work together.

[Deathclaw]

Cup competitions don't bring out the best winner. Anything can happen in them. Ask anyone, and Barca are tons better than Arsenal.

And btw, you support Real Madrid if I am not mistaken? No major trophy in THREE YEARS. Real Madrid are crap because they can't play together. I do not see why players wish to play there. I would rather play for tons of other clubs over Madrid. Maybe Capello can turn things around, idk.

So by your statement, Italy is not the best team in the world.

I do support Real Madrid. And I agree with you about how they play. But they have too many players with ego problems that they can't work together.

Italy aren't the best team in the world. By YOUR definition, the US are just as good as Italy (they played to a draw in group play). Anything can happen in a cup competition, and any team can beat any team on their day. In a season, a loss doesn't knock you out, so the best winner comes forward. Not so in a cup competition.

And Madrid need to stop buying strikers. They need to offload a couple, and buy some young players and get a good youth system going so they can be successful. The reason behind United's success over the years is the youth system. So many good players come up through the Academy.