So, What Does Sneijder Actually Want?

All he has to do, is say; "I, Wesley Sneijder, 27 year-old footballing Dutchman, can categorically deny that I will be leaving Inter Milan this summer." Perhaps then, this epic adventure through newspapers, gossip sites, Twitter feeds and professional bullsh*tters' "inside info", which has taken Manchester United fans from optimism to pessimism and back, but led nowhere really very productive, can end once and for all.

It seems so simple, yet the tangled, messy web which all of the rumours mixed with a touch of fact as well as misinterpreted quotes, has created, continues to spew out further information with no real substance at all. But dare we disbelieve it? Dare we brush it aside as nonsense? For all we know, the latest rumour that Wesley Sneijder is desperate to leave Inter Milan for Manchester United is absolutely true.

The past few weeks have been far quieter on the Sneijder to United front, but unsurprisingly, this week, more has "emerged." Sneijder has suddenly (and privately) changed his tune on a possible transfer away from Italy. Rather than see out the summer as an Inter player, quietly going about his business, he has (again, privately) stated that he wants a move.

He is "depressed," and "desperate" that his dream transfer to Manchester United has not materialised and feels as if he can do something about it. He has finally come to understand that asking for £200,000 per week in wages is simply not feasible, nor acceptable at a club like United, and has offered to lower his wage demands in order to force through a move.

With me so far? Believe any of it? No worries, there's only a little more to suffer through, as the final piece of the impossible puzzle is something Wesley will have to do in order to leave Inter; hand in a transfer request and force his way out.

As I said yesterday on Twitter, although I don't know Sneijder personally, I cannot see him showing the disrespect and dishonour of handing in a transfer request to a club that have treated him so well and that he loves so much. He loves Inter, he loves their fans and he loves the City, we know all of those things, but a transfer request, which is effectively saying; "thanks for everything, but I don't want to be here any more" would not be something I can see Sneijder doing.

Wayne Rooney did it, and look at the uproar among Manchester United fans it caused. Yes, he stayed, but it took a simply stunning overhead winner against United's fiercest rivals to win back most fans who chant his name loyally, and pay his wages.

It seems as if Wesley Sneijder is happy to stay at Inter, and happy to join Manchester United. Lets face it, it isn't a bad choice of clubs to play your football for, but if you really know what Wesley Sneijder wants and where he wants to play this season, you've either been told by the man himself, or are the man himself. The rest, are simply rumours.

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Rooney Would Welcome Sneijder Signing

When Wayne Rooney signed a new five year contract back in October of 2010, he said he was "delighted" to be staying at the club where he belongs. He was probably also rather pleased with the amount of money he would be taking home each week, as he had been then made Manchester United's top earner with a reported wage of something above £200,000 per week.

Manchester United have been linked to a player reportedly demanding more than Rooney's mammoth wages in Wesley Sneijder, and it had been said in numerous speculative reports that Rooney was uncomfortable with a player earning more than him. That to me sounds extremely egotistical and selfish of the English striker, and it is something I wouldn't really expect from him, so I was pleased to hear that Rooney would in fact welcome Sneijder to United, no matter what his wages would be.
A source close to Rooney said:

"It's nonsense to suggest Wayne would ever stop Manchester United signing a player like Wesley Sneijder because he wants to stay the top-paid player at Old Trafford; its absolutely not true. In fact, it's just the reverse. He’s happy to see United sign any world-class player to improve the club's chances of success."

"What other players earn when they join United is of no concern to Wayne. He is happy with his own situation at the club. Wayne is committed to seeing Manchester United improve at every level, which is why he signed on for five more years last season."

Indeed, despite the questionable demands from Sneijder about his wages, it should be of no concern to any other players what they earn per week. For a player to be against a club signing another player because they would exceed their own wages is quite frankly ridiculous to me, especially when we are talking about the already massive sums of money they are being paid.

While Rooney may support the Sneijder signing, Sir Alex Ferguson's latest comments to "forget" United signing Sneijder seems to rule out the signing, unfortunately for the majority of Manchester United fans, who find Sneijder as the perfect replacement for Paul Scholes.

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Manchester United to Offer Nani for Sneijder

According to reports, Luis Nani could be used by Manchester United as bait to persuade Inter Milan to let Wesley Sneijder leave Italy and join United. The Daily Express claims that due to Nani's maintained frustration of being left out of the Manchester United Champions League final starting line-up, the 24 year-old winger would be willing to move on.

Manchester United have apparently offered Inter a massive fee of £35 million for Sneijder, as well as offering an astonishingly generous £200,000 weekly wage to the player, but it seems Inter's stubbornness is shining through, with them extremely unwilling to let their star player go. United will now use a trump card, according to the paper, in offering Luis Nani in part exchange for Sneijder. 

Ashley Young's signing has, for some, cast doubt over Nani's future at Manchester United, once again adding to the strength of the argument that Nani may be looking to move on. However, while United could allow Nani to leave, along with his reported £50,000 a week wages to make way for Sneijder's astronomical wage demands, there are several reasons why this deal seems unlikely. 

Firstly, I cannot see Manchester United actively looking to let go of their most influential player last season. Not only did he assist 18 of United's goals last season, but he also recorded his best tally of goals in a season in his whole career with 10. The figures show very clearly that Nani is improving massively into a very talented, dangerous and integral part of a successful Manchester United team. Why on earth would Sir Alex Ferguson want to let him go?

There is also the fact that Manchester United typically seek strength in depth - in fact, it is United's large squad depth that has made them such a successful side over the years. The addition of Ashley Young to the other United wingers in Valencia, Giggs, Park and possibly Danny Welbeck only adds to the competitiveness on the United wings, and it is a fight Nani has expressed he is very much up for.

Finally, while I can understand Nani's frustration at being left out of the Champions League final starting eleven, I cannot see that as a reason to leave such a massive club at such an important stage in it's constant developing process. Nani made close to 50 appearances last season - which showcases clearly his worth to the team and more often than not, has made himself a certain starter - why would he look to leave when he is in such a strong, privileged position at a club like United?

Yes, adding Nani to the Sneijder deal would certainly make it an easier deal for Inter to agree to, but it would be a far better deal for Inter than United. Sir Alex Ferguson doesn't want to let Nani go - he has said so himself in the past - nor does he need to let Nani go. I believe Manchester Untied can persuade Inter to let Sneijder go with a cash only offer, with the £35 million United bid currently being seriously considered. There is really no need to let go Nani now is there?

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SPANISH FOOTBALL CLUB MALAGA FC TARGETS WESLEY SNEIJDER ?

Spanish Football Club MALAGA is turning out to be the big spender this summer in terms of signings putting the usual big buyers like Real Madrid , FC Barcelona, Atletico de Madrid, Valencia CF ...etc on a second & third level. Malaga was bought last season by Arab Sheik & multi - millionaire Abdullah Al Thani who saw initially how his newly acquired Club went through some terrible moments close to the relegation zone & saving its LIGA position in the last few rounds with an experience that one imagines he does not wish to go through again next season. This is why the Sheik is pouring in the "petrol dollars" with multiple signings already like Sergio Sánchez, Toulalan, Joaquín, Buonanotte, Monreal, Van Nistelrooy & Mathijsen, with WESLEY SNEIJDER now sounding out from Italy.

Wesley Sneijder

Yes, you read it right. According to Italian sources which have been picked up by local Spanish Sports paper "AS", MALAGA is moving strings to get the Dutchman over for the next season. But the news goes further, Italian paper "La Reppublica" publishes that INTER MILAN would look favourably with their "green-light" at a supposedly 35 - 40 M€ offer from Malaga. Being this the case, the final decision may well be up to WESLEY SNEIJDER who has reportedly interest from English Premier League Club Manchester United.

Said all this, one should take this news for what it is, a rumour at this stage with the need for further proof & more facts before one can really being to speculate about a possible return by Sneijder to Spanish Football.

What is beyond any doubt is that Malaga is going ahead with a very serious project & investing heavily to put themselves amongst the Spanish Football elite with European competition participation a prime objective. The list of other possible still to come signing candidates is long with Cazorla (Villareal) , Drogba (Chelsea FC) & Pastore (Palermo) all sounding as targets.

Stay tuned, Malaga is sending hard, signing strongly & rearming itself up a very serious & competitive squad for 2011-2012 season to give the big guns like Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, Atletico, Valencia ...etc , a serious run from their money.
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Man United - £200k a Week Contract For Sneijder

Ashley Young and Phil Jones are already done deals for Manchester United, with the Spanish goalkeeper David de Gea soon to follow now that his successful European Under-21 campaign is over. But will anyone else follow them through the Old Trafford doors to be welcomed by a warm handshake from Sir Alex Ferguson? A central midfielder is expected from the fans, and United's interest in several players in that position has been well documented, Wesley Sneijder included, and it has emerged today that there is only one real stumbling block - and it isn't the £35 million asking price.

No, Manchester United have the money in the bank to afford such a signing, and are prepared to splash the cash to replace Paul Scholes. £35 million for the 27 year-old Dutchman is certainly expensive, and would be United's record signing above Dimitar Berbatov, but Sir Alex Ferguson would be willing to spend that amount on the Inter Milan star, who has proven himself at the very top level in Italy, in Europe and at the World Cup. Sir Alex is a known fan.

The problem here though, is Sneijder's demands of £200,000 per week - £30,000 more than he earns with Inter. Another slight problem is that United are not the only club interest, because their Manchester rivals City are, and would have no problems in paying those wages. Sneijder is said to prefer a move to United though, so if there was a straight choice for the attacking midfielder, United would surely be the winner, even if the wages offered were slightly lower.

Manchester United's current top earner is Wayne Rooney - his highly publicised contract saga ending with him receiving a contract worth £180,000 a week plus another £90,000 for image rights, equalling £250,000 a week. United are clearly willing to spend big on their most important and most valuable players, and Sneijder would certainly be classed as an important an valuable player if he were to join United.

Ashley Young will be receiving around £130,000 a week when he starts playing for United which raised a few eyebrows among United fans who weren't expecting a signing who plays on the wing. Sir Alex has his reasons, and Young is added to the United wage bill which stands at £132 million a year, but will Sneijder?

There has been a huge rise in footballers wages ever since 1961, when the Football League decided to abolish the wage cap, allowing the then England captain Johnny Haynes become the first £100 a-week player. Clubs have since tried to maintain their own club wage caps, but very few last in modern football, with the biggest and best players demanding astronomical salaries, giving the players the ability to hold their clubs to ransom over a contract.

In 2000, 39 years after the wage cap was removed, Roy Keane became Manchester United's top earner, on £52,000 a week and just four years later, he was on almost double that amount, with him being paid £100,000 per week. It has been a rapid growth, and with more and more investors willing to pay the money, wages will continue to grow - and continue to become a problem for prospective buying clubs such as United.

If United have made Sneijder their number one target it is true, £200,000 may be an issue, but United could pay that amount if it came to it. Of course, if a bid for Sneijder is accepted by Inter, it will be down to the player as to how much he will accept to leave for in wages. Other midfield targets could prove cheaper weekly, with Luka Modric currently earning £50,000 at Tottenham, Samir Nasri earning £80,000 a week at Arsenal and Bastien Schweinsteiger earning just under £100,000 at Bayern Munich.

This Paul Scholes replacement will come at a price, both in a transfer fee and in a weekly wage. Manchester United and Sir Alex Ferguson will be looking for value for money, and it is up to Sir Alex to decide if £200,000 a week and £35 million provides him with the value. What do you think?

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"The interest from Manchester United in Sneijder is real." - But...

It is no secret that Manchester United need reinforcements in midfield. The frailty's have been for all to see this season, and it is credit to the winning mentality at the club that they are at the top of the Premier League table by five points without playing their best football.

 Paul Scholes is still yet to sign an extension on his contract with the club, and if he does decide to retire or move on at the end of the season, Sir Alex will urgently need to find a replacement. Likewise, Owen Hargreaves' injuries continue to pester him, and whether or not Ferguson decides to stick with him and attempt to get his moneys worth for the Canadian is yet to be seen.

Nevertheless, it is no surprise that Inter Milan have confirmed United's interest in Wesley Sneijder. Last summer, Sir Alex dismissed the fact that he had made a bid for the 26 year-old Dutchman. He said:

“I don’t know where those reports about Sneijder came from. How can anybody turn me down when I haven’t even made a bid?”

The interest however has now been confirmed by the Inter Milan President, Massimo Moratti who said this:

“The interest from Manchester United in Sneijder is real. But I didn’t look into it. My only interest is seeing Sneijder play here for many more years to come.”

Sneijder is the creative spark that the United midfield would love to have. In 21 games this season, the Dutchman has scored 3, created 5 and unleashed an ambitious 93 shots on goal. He is quick, strong and powerful with accurate shooting ability but apparently out of United's reach.



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