Breaking news: Real get another Diarra!

By: Steve | December 17th, 2008

Hala Madrid! Well kids, a quick glance at the football pages of today’s websites during lunchtime showed more movement by Los Merengues! Both ESPN Soccernet and The Guardian are reporting that Real have agreed to terms for Portsmouth and France international Lassana Diarra. Terms were undisclosed but sources say it could be anywhere from £20m-24m, up from an initial offer of £9m, after Manchester City indicated their interest.

The move gives Real another defensive midfielder to play alongside or instead of Gago, as they did before with Mahamadou Diarra, who is out for the season. He would fill one of the 3 positions new manager Juande Ramos has asked for, in addition to a new striker (the incoming Klaas-Jan Huntelaar) and an as-yet-unknown right winger.

I think it’s a pretty good move, as the new Diarra plays more or less the same role as the old Diarra does, though perhaps with a bit more skill and a bit less steel. Lassana ranks as one of the best defensive midfielders in the English Premier League, with a different role than better known names like Gareth Barry or Michael Essien.

What do you think? Good move or bad? Comment away!

Category: Team News

Tags: Lassana Diarra, Team News, transfer

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Comments  

• Adam Bader of RealmadridTalk |  December 17th, 2008 at 7:46 am

  
  
  

  I think this is a good move. Diarra is a quality player and can play in many positions including as a right back.

  Posted from United States

  

• Hawk |  December 17th, 2008 at 7:52 am

  
  
  

  2 Diarras is confusing. Especially if they play at the same time. The move isn’t complete yet though… Man City can outbid Real any time.

  Posted from Armenia

  

• Steve |  December 17th, 2008 at 8:15 am

  
  
  

  Hawk, Portsmouth has been reported to have already accepted Real’s bid, and Lassana has said that he’d rather choose Real over any other club (who wouldn’t?), so i think it’s a done deal.

  Posted from United Kingdom

  

• Hawk |  December 17th, 2008 at 8:20 am

  
  
  

  Money is a big persuader…

  Posted from Armenia

  

• Donovan |  December 17th, 2008 at 8:53 am

  
  
  

  Hawk just have a look on Portsmouth website. They already accepted Madrids offer and all thats left is for Diarra to agree personal terms. Also what Steve said that he already said that he prefers madrid over man city.

  Posted from Germany

  

• Nihit |  December 17th, 2008 at 9:09 am

  
  
  

  From a sporting perspective, its a good deal for the next six months. But the price is probably too high, just like in the case of Huntelaar. .This deal also means that someone like Javi Garcia will not see much playing time, not to mention that there’ll be a huge logjam in the centre of midfield next year. Somehow, i dont see Parejo or even Granero coming back if this goes through.

  Posted from India

  

• Corey |  December 17th, 2008 at 9:39 am

  
  
  

  Yeah it complicates the midfield situation, but besides the obvious detriment to Javi Garcia, I like the move. Parejo and Granero we should not worry about until this summer. I suspect the other Diarra and maybe VdV could be gone anyways.

  Posted from United States

  

• Evo |  December 17th, 2008 at 10:14 am

  
  
  

  hmm, not cconvinced that we should be looking at getting rid of M.Diarra – he has proven track record and he is tall. This French bloke is a proper short arse, but one which can play at right back.
  It may be that the management see Gago’s future further up front or in the centre (like Guti) with both Diarras remaining as defensive and L Diarra as right back cover.

  I wouldn’t put it past JRamos to move people out of their comfort zone, especially the younger players.

  Posted from United States

  

• Andres |  December 17th, 2008 at 7:46 pm

  
  
  

  I wouldn’t get rid of M.diarra when on form he is easily one the bests there is and he seems to bring good luck to the teams he plays for ( 6 times champs with lyon and 2 times with us )

  Posted from United States

  

• dp |  December 19th, 2008 at 11:04 am

  
  
  

  Lassana is a ball-winning machine who is going to drive La Liga midfields absolutely batty with how fast he plays, his strength, and how difficult it will now be for teams to run straight at Madrid’s back line. I’m not even a Pompey fan, and he’s impressed me immensely, especially his performance this season against Man City, where he basically shut out Robinho, Ireland, Wright-Phillips, and Elano by himself. He plays fast even for the Premier League, so occasionally a pass goes astray or he doesn’t look before he tackles, but the guy’s a bonafide ball-winning monster. Good signing. Oh, btw, y’all are going down in the CL–not even fair.

  Posted from United States

  

• Aaron |  December 23rd, 2008 at 10:59 am

  
  
  

  Yeah, what dp said is true, Diarra’s amazing!

  Posted from United States

  

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