Hamburg impede Van Nistelrooy's return to the Bernabeu
Hamburg have rejected Real Madrid's bid for former Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy. The Spanish giants are pursuing the Dutchman in order to provide cover for the injured Gonzalo Higuain, who is sidelined for the remainder
of the season due to injury.
However, it seems that Van Nistelrooy will be staying in the Bundesliga. Hamburg chairman Bernd Hoffman insists that the club intends to hang on to their star striker, regardless of how much money Real Madrid offer for the player's services.
Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho is in desperate need of a new striker in the January transfer window, especially since he will have to make do without Gonzalo Higuain for the rest of the campaign. The http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Argentina-c2841 international will be
out for at least four months after having surgery on a hernia in his back.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Ruud-van-Nistelrooy-c31966 would be the perfect replacement for Higuain. The Dutchman played for the Galacticos from 2006 to 2010 before moving to Hamburg at the start of last year. Nistelrooy himself was ready for a sensational move back to
the Bernabeu, but it seems his current employers are unlikely to let him leave.
Speaking on Real Madrid's bid for Ruud van Nistelrooy, Hamburg chairman Bernd Hoffman said, "Real Madrid have, in recent days, still been trying to make the transfer happen and made us an offer of more than two million euros plus a friendly
on our 125th anniversary. This offer has been rejected again, and for the last time. We have communicated this decision to the player (van Nistelrooy) and his advisor. We will do everything possible to reach Europe and therefore it is impossible for us to
let him go."
Hamburg have made their stance clear. It remains to be seen whether or not Jose Mourinho ramps up his bid for Van Nistelrooy in order to change Bernd Hoffman's mind. If the German giants don't budge though, Real Madrid reportedly have a host of other options
lined up to fill in the void left by Higuain at the front. Madrid have until the end of the month to snap up new players before the transfer window closes.
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