La Liga - Real Madrid target Wenger

Eurosport - Fri, 23 Jan 07:49:00 2009

Real Madrid will try to prise Arsene Wenger from Arsenal if Florentino Perez wins the Spanish club's presidential election.

Wenger - 0

Perez is bidding for a second spell as Real president, having lost out to Ramon Calderon in 2006.

It is claimed that the 61-year-old will make the capture of Wenger a key campaign pledge as he bids to return to power at the Santiago Bernabeu.

In his first term, Perez ushered in the 'Galacticos' era with the blockbuster signings of Luis Figo, Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo and David Beckham.

A source close to Perez told the Daily Mirror: "Florentino wants to make Wenger both coach and general manager of Real in the summer - and will promise it will happen."

Although Wenger has previously rejected Real, the offer of a general manager position would give the Frenchman complete control over scouting and transfers, which is normally denied to managers in Spain.

Perez also has a habit of doing what it takes to get his man, having based his 2000 election campaign on the seemingly impossible signing of Figo from arch-rivals Barcelona.

Calderon was forced to quit last week following a vote-rigging scandal, and the club's 70,000 members will vote for a new supremo.

Perez is prepared to spend big to revive a Real side that have slipped 12 points off the pace in La Liga, and has made Kaka and Arsenal skipper Cesc Fabregas his main transfer targets.

The source said: "With Kaka and Fabregas as players and Wenger as coach, Florentino will take Real back to where they should be."

Alex Chick / Eurosport

Comment 73 - 92 of 92

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  1. wenger likes to have control and needs it to apply his trade. real is the type of club were this type of hands on management is not easy to do. there are many positions in that club that have power and influence like buying players and picking squads. he should go crazy at arsenal and buy some heavy hitting players to boost his little childlike team. good football but cant do the business

    From chris c, on Thu 29 Jan 1:28PM

  2. I am an Englishman, but ever since seeing De stefano, Gento, Puskas, Del Sol against Eintracht all those years ago, I have followed Real. I am a Liverpudlian and a Liverpool supporter also. As long as Liverpool and Real Madrid keep winning the European Cup and Ferguson doesn't, I don't care who manages who!
    I believe that Arsene Wenger needs to move on, and maybe Real is the next BIG challenge. Who knows?
    But, knowing Real, they'll suprise us all and BUY Jose from Inter!

    Long live Liverpool. Viva Real!

    From Veteran, on Sat 24 Jan 8:58PM

  3. What a news.... If this is to be true, it will be the greatest blow on Arsenal FC, and that will be their end..........No Arsene, No Arsenal

    From maxzy, on Sat 24 Jan 5:03PM

  4. As a long time RMCF fan,even though in the past Florentino Perez made 3 crucial mistakes that cost the club 3 trophiless seasons,I still believe he's better than Ramon Calderon because he was able to fulfill whatever he promises and brought lots of titles,most importantly the UCL title in 2002.I don't mind seeing him at the helm again.Hope that he already learned his lesson from past mistakes before coming back.

    From Guyver II, on Sat 24 Jan 4:37PM

  5. to post 70...u r a tool and u r full of @#$%
    who won numerous league titles thanks to FRANCO's support...real madrid
    who sabotaged barcelona to win those titles...real madrid
    who hijacked di stefano deal when he first signed for the blaugrana...real madrid
    who boast about winning ECL titles but failed to even get through the knockouts....real madrid
    who is taking the UEFA to court for an obvious rule of cup-tied players just because they are scared of LFC...RM
    so i guess...les meringues are just a group of white muppets who think they are still in the same league as Man utd, barcelona and chelsea...wake up u DOUCHE...the glory days of the white muppets are over...and wenger is smarter than making a grave mistake by joining RM!

    From Abby, on Fri 23 Jan 6:09PM

  6. You all are idiots.. Who won La liga last two years ... Okey Barca is unbeatable for this season but that doesnt mean nothing for the future..

    From cenkyigit, on Fri 23 Jan 1:24PM

  7. Im Real Madrid fan and I think Arsen Wenger is one of the best coach in the world. He would be succesfull, If Real would do what he thinks and stop to bring star football player, stop believe in money!!! I do not like to hear Real Madrid just ruin the world of football.... we need right back player!!!

    From pinkvera, on Fri 23 Jan 9:58AM

  8. No.84... I agree..

    From mohd n, on Fri 23 Jan 9:38AM

  9. Wenger if goes sometimes at all to Spain - he will join Barca, because of their youth team of tallents. He like to work with young talented players and to make them stars, instead of working with "expensive princess" like it is Madrid.

    From dveselin73, on Fri 23 Jan 9:05AM

  10. no 70 . When is last time Real won UEFA CHAMPIONS LAEGUE ? Real Madrid is not even threat in UEFA right now and they like s*it want to appeal to against the rule so they can have diara and huntelaar in their squad . Can we play fair ? Arsene Wenger is a good manager eventhough I'm not arsenal fans . Arsene dun believe in money like Real Madrid . I believe Arsene not going to last long at Real Madrid . Real need ref to win against Osasuna . Eventhough Barca only 3-2 but they won it by themselves .Thats what man did . Depend on yourselves . Tell me what happen when Brazilian Ronaldo going to Real ? Tell me what happen to david Beckham ? And Michael Owen . Real Madrid just ruin the world of football .

    From badboyz, on Fri 23 Jan 7:41AM

  11. mr.wenger pls dont left us dont left arsenal.uknow realmadridis the most sacking coaching club inthe world.dontgo there and dont be unhappy.pls stay with arsenal and halpthis club.allthe arsenalfan need u.prenier league need u.allthe fans love andrespect u from the core of their heart.

    From ahamedtariqalam, on Fri 23 Jan 5:42AM

  12. im man u fans but i hate when lure wanger to lead them....wanger is a good football manager even not for club but atleast he create something for future...i doubt even he will stay in real more than 2 season there(this the best if he still there in one season)...real madrid most sacking club in the world...i have no idea what real madrid thingking...

    From Monkey L, on Fri 23 Jan 5:10AM

  13. he has build far too much for the club to leave for Madrid now, a club that chages manager too often.

    From c, on Fri 23 Jan 4:54AM

  14. i c u thanks for your compliment but i'm sorry to say that there is a difference between a physical game and kicking grabbing or all means to stop a player yet all this fouls(witch are professional fouls=yellow cards) goes unpunished

    From khalidallaoui, on Fri 23 Jan 2:09AM

  15. why would wenger want to go to real madrid??????????? hes at the best club now..the one he built................go and eat your pizzas......bunch of has beens!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! money is not currency with mr wenger!

    From p.worthington02, on Fri 23 Jan 1:43AM

  16. Ok guys no asskicking plz..... i'm a lfc fan.
    Seriously tho..... if arsene doesn't go-or get pushed,you guys really need to sign a few experienced players.
    I love how you play,but you need some real fighters in your team.
    I'd be sad to see wenger leave the premier league.
    Peace all you gooners.

    From !, on Fri 23 Jan 1:42AM

  17. r madrid is too much for arsene they should go for paul merson,p parker,a hansen or maybe the hole sky sport news team.if you look at arsene's work at arsenal it isn't about money or big team job it is about believes and principles and r madrid is non of that.p merson can't see arsenal wining a thing and i can't see arsene throwing stupid huge some of money on players and that is what r madrid and some english teams all about little spoiled kid.long life arsenal andd arsene

    From khalidallaoui, on Fri 23 Jan 1:33AM

  18. andaherskovits shut the @#$% up just fucken saytht u re a retarded madrid fan wtf how many coaches have they sacked nd how many more do u want them to sack let them leave arsene alone nd use thier so colled money to get another coach since they are a ''world class team'' (second round exit awaits them in the cl as usual loosers)
    tht just buy big names nd not talenty why dont they build up a team how many coaches will do tht 4 them seriuosly they should quit soocer nd play baseball

    From ANONYMOUS, on Thu 22 Jan 11:45PM

  19. wenger wont leave arsenal unless arsenal let go of HIM!!!

    From Omar F, on Thu 22 Jan 11:37PM

  20. if david dein was still at arsenal id rubbish these reports but all i can hope is that arsene stays as well as fab if u lose a few matches u seem to get th sack at real wenger is arsenal as the song gouse please dont go

    From OLIVER, on Thu 22 Jan 11:33PM
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