Premier League - Portsmouth accept Real Diarra bid

Eurosport - Wed, 17 Dec 18:20:00 2008

Portsmouth have accepted what they described as an "exceptional bid" from Real Madrid for midfielder Lassana Diarra.

FOOTBALL Lassana Diarra Portsmouth - 0

The Spanish giants reportedly had an initial £9 million offer rejected, while The Sun claims they have increased their bid to a massive £24m in a desperate effort to make Diarra coach Juande Ramos's first signing in January.

Real are short of midfield cover following a season-ending injury to Malian Mahamadou Diarra.

Portsmouth are experiencing financial difficulties brought on by the global financial crisis and said they reluctantly agreed to sell Diarra because of the size of the offer.

"We have always said that we would only allow our players to leave if we received an exceptional bid," said a club statement.

"We could not stand in the way of a move such as this for Lassana."

Portsmouth said they had "already identified" players who could replace the French international.

The ambitious Diarra will make Real his fourth club since August 2007 when he moved from Chelsea to Arsenal.

He subsequently signed for Pompey after just half a season with the Gunners, having failed to establish himself as a first-team player.

On arriving at Fratton Park, he spoke openly about his desire to attract "a really big club" and said: "The people at Portsmouth know I will not spend my life at the club."

Diarra performed superbly during the second half of last season when he helped Pompey lift the FA Cup, during which time his qualities as a specialist defensive midfielder impressed Ramos, who was then manager of Tottenham.

Earlier this season, Ramos said: "[Lassana] Diarra is someone I know perfectly well from my time in England. He is a France international and a player who is very similar to the Diarra [Mahamadou] that we have here.

"A player with very important physical characteristics as well as being a good footballer."

Alex Chick / Eurosport

Comment 11 - 30 of 90

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  1. Stevehaynes: See the text of the article:
    The Sun­ claims they have increased their bid to a massive £24m­ in a desperate effort to make Diarra coach Juande­ Ramos's first signing in January.
    So Diarra will­ sign in January. In the transfer window.

    From Paul G, on Wed 17 Dec 12:13PM

  2. holy fk there is no way on earth that diarra is worth­ that much money liverpool paid a 4tune for keane n he­ sits on the bench n real r gna pay that sort of sum 4 a­ player who clearly is not worth the waste

    From kingbilly73, on Wed 17 Dec 12:10PM

  3. To Stevehaynes 29 - Transfers can be negotiated out­ side the transfer windows, but players can only move­ clubs when the transfer window opens. So in Diarra case­ if the transfer is agreed now he will still be a pompy­ player up until the 1st of Jan when he will move to­ Real.

    From lucky_luke_inc, on Wed 17 Dec 12:05PM

  4. To PeaceS: I think you are a little misguided in­ calling Diarra 'average'. He is a class act,­ one of the best midfielders in the premiership. Im sad­ to see him go but wish him all the best in Madrid.­
    People tend to dismiss Diarra as he is not a­ 'superstar' footballer like Ronaldo or Messi,­ but those who really know about football can see him­ for what he is, a truly world class player!

    From Michael S, on Wed 17 Dec 12:05PM

  5. diarra will have more clubs than tiger wood by the end­ of next season!! he's a decent player, but Mardird­ class is hard to say, if he is as good as he tells­ people then he would never have left chelsea let alone­ arsenal? his agent is obviously a verybusy man as he­ has been linked with every club in the world since­ august!!

    From maguirejj1, on Wed 17 Dec 12:01PM

  6. can someone explain to me the "transfer­ window"?thought transfers could only be done close­ season and the transfer window in january.....?

    From steve, on Wed 17 Dec 11:52AM

  7. this is great news for portsmouth, i hear they are in­ financial trouble so hopefully all this cash will get­ them out of troubles, im a 'pool fan but have a lot­ of respect for this team and their fans and esp. that­ antique rustheap of a stadium :)

    From Beltenebros, on Wed 17 Dec 11:49AM

  8. I think you'll find it still won't pay for the­ stadium. Though in these financial times, Portsmouth is­ probably the last place any sane person would invest­ money. I guess that's why the crook has taken his­ money out and has tried off-loading it for so long. I­ can only see the team lurking in the depths of the­ lower leagues now, under their prettier and more­ affluent rivals in Southampton. Southampton may not be­ doing well, but are much better placed to bounce­ back.......................Yes, i think portsmouth have­ again bitten off more than they can chew and proved­ greed is no answer.

    From ROCK AND ROLL, on Wed 17 Dec 11:48AM

  9. LET'S GET THIS RIGHT, HOW MUCH IS REAL PAYING FOR­ DIARRA? THE STATEMENT ABOUT THE MONEY IS SHADY, IS­ MADRID PAYING 20MILLION FOR DIARRA OR YU ARE SAYING­ THIS SO THAT THE FAN WILL ACCEPT YOUR SELLING DIARRA IN­ GOOD FATE. FOR WHAT I SEE IN DIARRA, EVEN 12M IS AN­ OVERBLOATED AMOUNT, TELL US IF YOU ARE BEGGING REAL TO­ HELP YOU WITH SOME MONEY, NOT TO SAY REAL IS PAYING 20­ MILLION FOR AN AVERAGE PLAYER LIKE DIARRA. THERE ARE­ FAR BETTER PLAYERS IN THAT ROLE THAT WILL ACEPT 10M.

    From peace s, on Wed 17 Dec 11:40AM

  10. If the bid is anywhere near £24 million, it just proves­ how out of touch Real Madrid really are. Decent player­ and all but that sort of money for a water carrier is­ ridiculous.

    From Gary, on Wed 17 Dec 11:38AM

  11. Rather silly to give up such a good player in their­ situation!

    From gordon.merk, on Wed 17 Dec 11:32AM

  12. Dare I suggest it, but Wenger made a mistake with this­ player. Arsenal could do with him now.

    From Stephen, on Wed 17 Dec 11:22AM

  13. @#$% it is just a fringe, i think real is gonna drop­ out of top 4 this season

    From occ_9o, on Wed 17 Dec 11:20AM

  14. Nah arsenal sold Diarra in the summer to pompy, then we­ lost Flamini, not very good man management by Wenger­ there, but such is the way it goes.

    From Tom, on Wed 17 Dec 11:20AM

  15. I like the fact they are keeping the Diarra's­ together, there seems to be lots of Diarra's on the­ football scene, so keeping them together makes sense­ and stops me from getting confused.

    From Tom, on Wed 17 Dec 11:18AM

  16. As a fan of Pompey living in Madrid I have mixed­ feelings about this! Probably a good move for all­ concerned and i'll enjoy watching him at the­ Bernabau but a loss for Pompey. Still, if it means we­ don't have to sell anyone else in January it might­ just prove a blessing in disguise.

    From stephen, on Wed 17 Dec 11:02AM

  17. Get Jimmy Bullard in and decent right winger!

    From SIMON, on Wed 17 Dec 10:58AM

  18. I always thought he was good, I suppose theres just not­ that much on the market that can play in CL, surely­ that much money they would have gone for Alonso or­ Senna, the Real fans hate the fact they dont buy­ spanish! I think the fee is massively exagerated prob­ more like £12-14m

    From Hobitez, on Wed 17 Dec 10:49AM

  19. money talks - mine just says goodbye - lol

    From elenavinogradovalowe, on Wed 17 Dec 10:45AM

  20. Let's get Sulley back and also a DMF.

    From The Northerner, on Wed 17 Dec 10:40AM
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