Granero Being Considered For A Return

By: Corey | July 10th, 2009

RRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!

Great news for all Madrid fans surely! Esteban Granero, the pirate of the Castilla and Getafe teams, is being considered as a serious contender for recall now that Real has exhausted most of its options for a central midfielder to replace the unfortunate Ruben de la Red. While it pains me to say, I think it is in Ruben’s best interest to remain out of the game until he is definitively cleared to play, which may take another season. So Real needs a player of his caliber (very high standards we are talking) to replace him, and most of the summer Xabi Alonso was rumored to be that players. The 5 million dollar buy back clause would certainly be much cheaper then Alonso, and Granero’s 2.5 million a year in salary would probably be too. Alonso was always going to be the favored selection because he is a dedicated central midfielder (Granero has been seen on the right wing last year) of Spanish national team stock.

Cue four big money moves from Real, and now it seems that the money for Alonso is not there. That of course has more to due with Liverpool looking for an absurd 40 million euros for a player that was rated below 15 million only one year ago. Highway robbery definately, and with Rafa Benitez whining, and I mean really moaning about Manchester City and Gareth Barry specifically upping the fees in EPL transfer activity (god forbid Rafa 1. Not buy 5+ players per season and 2. Anyone other then the ‘Big 4′ spend money on players), I do not think there is much room for negotiation there. Alonso is a good player, and he would be appreciated, but I do think that a combination of Lass, M. Diarra, Gago and Sneijder/Guti/Granero in the center of the park, with Parejo still around to let us not forget, is at a loss in center midfield honestly.

Granero of course has been played as a right winger most of the past two seasons with Getafe, although he has popped up on the left from time to time. He is a trained center midfielder of course, so I see Granero as being a backup to Ronaldo on the right, and also a great option at center midfield beside a DM like Lass and M. Diarra. He is more offensive then Gago, but more defensively disciplined then Sneijder or Guti. A hard worker and a creator, his passing range is pretty good and while he is not a ball winner, he puts his body in there which is all you can ask sometimes from your central midfielder. He would give you the output of Gago defensively, but the offensive spark of Guti.
Of course this would mean Parejo is most certainly on his way out, and it might be difficult for Gago to get a game as well. I think Parejo needs a loan anyways, so that would be fine with me. Some La Liga football for him could lead to him developing much like De la Red and Granero have.

Granero is available for recall until July 31. There is still time to look at other options, but the goal would be to have the player in training camp sooner rather then later. It seems like his situation is really up in the air, along with Negredo, who I am still unsure will be in camp when it starts in a few days.

My question to you is: Do you want Granero to come back in place of signing Xabi Alonso and/or to backup Ronaldo on the right? I definitely do, and it goes beyond him being a canterano. Thats nice and all, but when you get down to it, Granero is a great players. He is the obvious heir to the Guti throne, and I see him as being a creative fulcrum for the team for years. Pellegrini obviously likes him, as Vilarreal were very interested in him last summer and even this summer. Sure our midfield is log jammed right now, but we need Granero back regardless. Tell me what you think and vote in this weekends poll!

Do You Want To See Granero Back At Real Madrid?(polls)