LOOKING FOR A STRIKER | FC BARCELONA - REAL MADRID CF

Leaving aside the Luis Suarez "biting incident" & his severe FIFA sanction, the news is that FC Barcelona remains interested in signing the Uruguayan striker. The Barcelona based Spanish Sports papers are very adamant that Luis Suarez has given his OK to FC Barcelona & that the latter now only needs to begin negotiations with Liverpool FC. Barça from their end wish to take advantage of the Luis Suarez "biting rage" & force Liverpool to lower their initial asking price of around 85M€ to around 50M€. The Spanish Football Club feels that Liverpool FC is in a "must sell" phase after Suarez sank his teeth into Italian defender Chiellini.

However, other Football observers claim that Luis Suarez is NOT the Nº1 priority of FC Barcelona for their forward line. It is claimed that Napoli & Argentine International Gonzalo Higuain is the main target. It is claimed that Barça retired Captain - & now Club Nº2 Football Director - Carles Puyol shut an agreement with Higuain weeks back, & that it was now a case between Clubs to negotiate. Plus, Coach Luis Enrique & Club Directives want to keep Messi "happy" after losing "best mate" Pinto & Cesc Fabregas, with his current Argentine team-mate.

Luis Suarez, with this news piece, is the alternative for Barcelona, & some Club Directives are questioning the signing option with all the fracas associated with Suarez.  

The other option for Luis Suarez to play in Spanish Football is Real Madrid. The Spanish Football Club is patiently watching events as their main objective is to renew the contract of Karim Benzema. The Club is satisfied with their current forward line-up of Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale & Benzema (the BBC). There is talk that Alvaro Morata may leave for Juventus FC & if so Real Madrid may sign a "young talent" instead of a consolidated striker. 

It is rumoured that neither Coach Ancelotti nor Cristiano Ronaldo feel comfortable with the possible arrival of Luis Suarez as his inclusion may ruffle feathers at the dressing room level. Said this a new forward has entered the picture - again - in the name of Monaco & Colombian International Radamel Falcao. 

Falcao seems to be confident that Real Madrid will make an effort this summer to sign him for next season. It has been written that Falcao has told Colombian (squad) friends that he is really close to Real Madrid for next season. 

In any case,  there is plenty of time to shut all these deals. I would think that the mayor Clubs will allow time to expire & thus make nervous players & their respective Clubs. Once nerve set in, the pretending Clubs can better leverage their position & bargaining strength to get their way.

Stay tuned, very interesting weeks ahead for Higuain, Suarez & Falcao.

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FC BARCELONA - GONZALO HIGUAIN HAVE AN AGREEMENT FOR NEXT SEASON ?

Surprise, surprise. Spanish Sports paper "Marca" advances that ex-Real Madrid & now Napoli Argentine International Gonzalo Higuain is very close to landing at FC Barcelona for next season. That is right, as you read, according to the media source Higuain has come to an agreement with with Spanish Football Club FC Barcelona to be their new forward signing for next season.

The only thing now needed is the both Napoli & Barça agree to the transfer terms. The other name that were being flown around was Sergio Aguero, but it looks like things have taken a turn.

I need to remind that this is still speculation & that both Clubs involved have not made any comments about this new transfer story. For all we know it could be a "smoke-screen" while Barça works on another candidate that they desire to keep under wraps for the moment. 

Real Madrid sold the 26 year old Gonzalo Higuain to Napoli last season for 40M€ & one could think that Napoli would at least want to get back their investment. The hypothetical operation could involve cash plus a player/s.

If all this is correct & Higuain ends up at FC Barcelona the Argentine will be another in a list of players that crossed over from Real Madrid to the "enemy". One of the most remembered & infamous is current Barça Coach Luis Enrique, which in itself is now ironic.

Stay tuned, as I will keep an eye on this interesting new development.

LATEST: Monday 16th June: Both Napoli & FC Barcelona release notes communicating that this story has no truth.

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REAL MADRID NEWS | THE CURRENT GONZALO HIGUAIN SITUATION

Italian Club Napoles - Napoli - has come to an agreement with Real Madrid for the transfer of Argentine International forward Gonzalo Higuain. The deal is 37M€ plus 3M€ more if certain objectives are achieved, the only thing needed is the OK & signature from the player.

However, the player has become "prisoner" of his unilateral negotiations. Higuain prefers to go to English Premier League Club Arsenal FC where he has a more succulent personal offer. But Arsenal only will pay 28M€ & Higuain has been attempting these past days to convince Arsenal to lift their offer & match Napoles. Arsenal FC is not willing to lift 12M€ & has Rooney & Luis Suarez as alternatives. 

Napoles Directives are currently in Madrid attempting to convince Higuain that their project is attractive for the player & that a move to Italy will be beneficial for the forward where he will join ex-team mates Jose Callejon & Raul Albiol. 

Real Madrid Coach Ancelotti spoke to the Argentine last week & let him known that he is welcomed to stay at the Club, but the player is determined to exit the Club as expressed publicly. The only door open for Higuain is Napoles, Real Madrid will only sell their player for 40M€, price that Napoles is willing to pay, the only Club.
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REAL MADRID OK TO HIGUAIN TRANSFER TO NAPOLES ?

According to the Italian press Real Madrid has accepted a 35M€ offer for its Argentine forward Gonzalo Higuain from Italian Club Napoles ( Napoli ). The Sports daily says that Real Madrid President Florentino Perez has given his OK personally to the operation. Now Napoles has to shut its deal with the economic conditions with the player.

Gonzalo Higuain would cover the gap left open at the Italian Club by the departure of Cavani to Paris St Germain. Plus if this story is correct, the Argentine striker would join ex team-mates Jose Callejon & Raul Albiol.

As with all news of this type there is no official communication from the Clubs. It is best to wait for a confirmation before considering the story as fact.

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IBRAHIMOVIC WANTS TO FOLLOW ANCELOTTI AT REAL MADRID ?

It was mentioned here a couple of weeks back, that Paris St Germain forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic wished to follow his ex-Coach Carlo Ancelotti & had sent a message via "third persons" that he would be willing to leave PSG for Real Madrid. The Swede is said to have been "offended" with the signing of another number 9 in the player Cavani & wishes to find the exit door.

Spanish Sports paper "AS" picks up today the news that Ibrahimovic wishes to join Real Madrid. He knows the Club is looking for a Number 9 & that he personally would be able to look for his ultimate Football goal, the Champions League title, under Coach Ancelotti. To help,  it is said that Ibrahimovic would accept to reduce his 14M€ per season salary to fit into the Real Madrid scheme. At his 31 years of age, the PSG forward sees this "train" as his last real big opportunity.

The big obstacle is his character. The player has earned himself a profile of "difficult player" & "star" in all the Clubs he has been. This may now be the pay back moment. Although it is said that Carlo Ancelotti does not see a problem with his possible incorporation & that the Italian Coach has been able to "tame the Beast" & bring out the best of forward with plenty of goals in France.

Today the same media source publish that the Sergio Aguero option is still open. The Manchester City Argentine forward has never totally been discarded at the Spanish Club & would be better placed than Ibrahimovic if possible.

Either way, at this point, there are numerous factors in play. One is Gonzalo Higuian, Real Madrid ask for 40M€ to help finance signing operations & at this moment the only said offer that exists for the player is 30M€ from Italian Club Napoles. Also there is the Gareth Bale desires of Real Madrid, at this point in a stalemate situation but could take-off again at any moment. The signing of Bale by Madrid could cost anything from 80-100M€, Bale would be a priority & would shut the door at other said signings. 

Interesting weeks ahead, stay tuned!

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REAL MADRID GONZALO HIGUAIN TO ARSENAL FC FOR 27M€ ?

According to news out of South American media ( Fox Sports Latin ) Real Madrid Argentine International forward Gonzalo Higuain has an agreement with English Premier League Club Arsenal FC for the next three seasons. The news source goes further publishing that Higuain will fly into London tomorrow to pass the medical check & sign his new contract.

The father of the player ( & representative ) comments that he has permission from Real Madrid to negotiate with Arsenal. The transfer figure is said to be around 27M€ & will make Higuain one of the better paid players within the Arsenal squad.

However, there is no official statement from Real Madrid & personally it seems strange that the negotiations are being said to be handled by the father of Higuain. Plus the 27M€ seems low for the calibre of player in question.

Said this, I would advise caution with this news piece & wait until tomorrow or the coming days to get the official confirmation from both Clubs. Lets not forget that the player also had an apparent agreement with Italian Club Juventus.
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REAL MADRID | HIGUAIN REACHES AN AGREEMENT WITH ARSENAL FC

The report comes from English Paper "Daily Mirror" & it has been picked up locally by nearly all the Spanish Sports media. Real Madrid Argentine International forward Gonzalo Higuain has come to an agreement with English Premier League Club Arsenal FC for a year salary of 7,2M€ per year. The only thing that needs to be formalized is an agreement between Clubs. It is reported that Arsenal FC is willing to offer Real Madrid 25M€ for the transfer.

This news contrasts with information a couple of days back, that Higuain had an agreement with Italian Club Juventus. Here the problem was the price Juventus was offering Real Madrid a figure around 22M€. The Spanish Football Club has priced their player around the 30-35M€ mark.

If the news out of England is correct, I suspect that Real Madrid will be asking for more than 25M€ from Arsenal. The English Club may now be ahead of Juventus in offer but until Arsenal lifts substantially their figure Real Madrid won´t be letting go. They have all summer to stimulate the Clubs interested in Huguain to reach the asked for transfer figure.

Stay tuned!

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REAL MADRID | ARSENAL FC WILLING TO PAY 30M€ for HIGUAIN

Everything indicates that Italian Club Juventus is in the front running to get the services of Real Madrid Argentine International striker Gonzalo Higuain. However, news from England tells us that Arsenal FC has entered the picture in an aggressive manner & is willing to offer 30M€ ( 8M€ more than Juventus ) & with a one-off payment.

The idea isn't far fetched at all. Higuain made a comment last week saying that English Football suits his style. Was he onto the something already? What is clear is that Higuain has made up his mind to leave Real Madrid as expressed to media straight after the last Liga match with Real Madrid. The Spanish Football Club on the other hand is denying that they have received an offer from any Club at all. A usual "tactic" as Real Madrid obviously wishes to get the maximum value out of its forward.

Back at Arsenal FC, the departure of Van Persie has left a "hole" upfront that the team hasn't been able to fill adequately. The English Club sees Gonzalo Higuian as the solution. However, they & all interested in the Argentine will have to wait until Real Madrid gets its new Coach for next season. Everything indicates it will be Carlo Ancelotti & the Italian has given orders for the Club not to make a move until he takes control & Real Madrid has a substitute forward in the bag be that Bale or Cavani or ...

Stay tuned for developments.

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REAL MADRID & ANCELOTTI TARGETS LICHTSTEINER OF JUVENTUS

Specific petition from the probable next Coach of Real Madrid Carlo Ancelotti? Spanish Sports paper "AS" publish today that Real Madrid is negotiating with Italian Club Juventus for 29 year old Swiss & Juve right-back Lichtsteiner. 

Real Madrid desires - as has happened - to include the defender in the Gonzalo Higuain negotiations. As written here weeks back, Juventus has targeted Real Madrid Argentine forward Higuain for next year. The 25 M€ price tag put on the player by Real Madrid has motivated Juventus to "throw in " their defender Lichtsteiner in an attempt to lower the price.

Carlo Ancelotti as asked Real Madrid this player, & he has already attempted the signing of the Swiss defender in the past & has tried to get the player over to Paris St Germain. This time the Italian may have luck at Real Madrid. Stay tuned.

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REAL MADRID TRANSFERS | ARSENAL FC - HIGUAIN CLOSE ?

Days back the news was the Italian Club Juventus was coming to Madrid to negotiate for Argentine & Real Madrid forward Gonzalo Higuain. Now,  out of the city of Barcelona & the Sports daily "Sport", the news is that English Premier League Club Arsenal FC is better situated.

The Spanish Sports papers goes on to write that Higuain has received various offers, including Tottenham Hotspurs & Juventus. The player wishes to play in the English Premier League & excludes Italian Football, thus Arsenal FC is his choice. I say choice, because it is claimed that Higuain has a "verbal-agreement" with Arsenal FC that includes a 5 year contract with a 22M€ transfer figure.

If the Arsenal negotiations were to complicate themselves , Tottenham Hotspurs would be again a  choice if the Club can get itself into Champions League. Said this Tottenham has its own Plan-B, FC Barcelona David Villa, but more on this later. All these supposition are just that, speculations from the Barcelona based paper.

What is clearer is that the Real Madrid player is more out next season than in, & that the player has options to study, from English & Italian Football. Stay tuned!

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REAL MADRID | KAKA - COENTRAO - HIGUAIN EXIT CANDIDATES

If in the below post I mentioned some of the FC Barcelona exit names for next season, here I will mention some of the names that are being said with exit Real Madrid, or at least that is the intention of the Club.

The name & player Gareth Bale of Tottenham Hotspurs keeps sounding locally as a potential new signing for Real Madrid next season. However, for the Welshman to arrive Real Madrid must clear "stock" & locally there are three names that are being said are on the list of players to exit.

Brazilian midfielder Kaka is & has been for sometime. In the last Winter market there were some serious attempts to find the player a way out, but nothing eventuated. The other two names are defender Coentrao who hasn't performance to expectations & forward Gonzalo Higuain. The idea is to get some income into the Club & with it go for Gareth Bale whose price is estimated to be around the 50-55M€ mark. 

The list of possible exit names will be changing in coming weeks & months as it occurs every year but for the moment Kaka, Coentrao & Higuain are the firm candidates.  Stay tuned!

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TOTTENHAM HOTSPURS WILL GO FOR REAL MADRID GONZALO HIGUAIN

English newspaper sources, in this case "The Guardian", write that English Premier League Club Tottenham Hotspurs has Real Madrid Argentine forward Gonzalo Higuian on their list of next season priority reinforcements. This is not new, as last season Tottemham was in apparent conversations with Real Madrid & the player with the latter deciding that he wished to give it another go at Madrid & attempt to consolidate his position & place.

This last area is precisely the problem for Higuain. The Argentine has suffered injury & his competition with team-mate Karim Benzema has made his season somewhat irregular. The forward is not capable of consolidating his place & thus misses out on rhythm & building form. Perhaps it is time to move on after so many seasons of "instability". 

The rumours that Real Madrid will go after Tottenham Welsh International Gareth Bale has made observers speculate that Higuian could enter into the negotiations & the transfer operation. What gives Tottenham Hotspurs hope is that a possible Higuain incorporation maybe viable because the player has not signed as yet a verbally agreed contract renewal promise. Player & Club agreed to extend the contract to 2017 & lift his salary to 4.5M€, yet nothing has been put on paper.

Is this a clear sign Higuain is considering a "move option"? Perhaps Tottenham Hotspurs?
Stay tuned!

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REAL MADRID | HIGUAIN TO STAY ?

Yes, no, yes, no...staying, going, staying, going... I personally am getting tired as I also suppose some REAL MADRID fans are as well. The very latest on the GONZALO HIGUAIN saga is that, acccording to one of his reps Norberto Recasens, the player is staying at the Spanish Football Club.

Gonzalo Higuian

Following from the above comments, Recasans says that the player is very happy & looks for more playing minutes. This is obvious, which player does not wish more minutes, but perhaps the real "background" story is that the player ( or advisors ) wish more money.

The people which advise Higuian, especially his father, believe that the Real Madrid player is undervalued & should earn more money & be much closer to Karim Benzema in economic terms.

The "I am leaving"  story is a strategy to force Real Madrid to open up the wallet. This & the fact the Coach Mourinho & the Club has let known personally to Higuain that he is an important element in their future plans.


Good news thus for Real Madrid fans, however I do feel we will be getting more news on this through the summer. I not at all convinced that this story has come to an end.

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REAL MADRID | MOURINHO - HIGUAIN NEWS

REAL MADRID CF Coach JOSE MOURINHO grabs today's Spanish Football Sports papers headlines even in the off-season. The Portuguese Coach has renewed his contract with Real Madrid another two more years, that is,  until 2016.

The Liga title has lifted his spirits & he sees a real chance to consolidate his squad & again go after next seasons LIGA title & the cherished Champions League title so important for Real Madrid. Mourinho sees it all as a stimulating challenge & one can read in between the lines that he has gained even more power within the Club organizational structure.

José Mourinho

The other related news is that the Father & representative of Real Madrid player GONZALO HIGUAIN has had a meeting with Mourinho & Club Directives at the Clubs Head Quarters at the "Santiago Bernabeu Stadium". The news is that Real Madrid & the player have significantly shortened ground in their tussle on whether Higuain leaves or not next season. 

Mourinho - Higuain

Coach Mourinho let known that the Argentine International is an important part of next seasons squad & Clubs plans & desires that Higuain stay. Other local news source have gone further & communicated that Mourinho has finally convinced the player not to leave.

If this is the case, it gives weight to the persistent idea that the "threat" of leaving by Higuain is an orchestrated strategy by his Father to seek a salary increase for his son. Gonzalo Higuain has always wished to stay at Madrid but his Father believes that the Club does not truly value his worth. This has traditionally been a dangerous strategy to play & we want to believe that it will not finally back-fire as there is plenty of time still until the start of the new season & many other names are sounding for the Higuain position.

Stay tuned!

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REAL MADRID - MANCHESTER CITY TO SWAP HIGUAIN FOR AGUERO ?

According to local Spanish Sports paper "Marca",  & its front cover today, Manchester City & Argentine International SERGIO AGUERO is back on the agenda of REAL MADRID for next season. The fact is that "Kun" never left the agenda of the Spanish Football Club  because there may have been an "agreement" that the player go to England & thus "disarm" the then local "ATLETICO DE MADRID" bomb to return, the so called "bridge option".

Remember, apparently Atletico de Madrid President Gil Marin basically got on his knees to plea with Real Madrid President Florentino Perez that he not sign Sergio Aguero because the former was facing a serious & "violent" "fan-base" revolt & that he was being "threatened" personally by unknowns...or that is what was said. 

Cover of Marca

SERGIO AGUERO wanted to go to REAL MADRID, in fact the Club stimulated his desires & activated his "leave Atletico strategy", but did not calculated the fierce Atletico de Madrid back-lash & local pressures. SOLUTION? Go to England for a year or two, play for a Premier League Club which is "friendly" - Real Madrid & Manchester City have excellent relations -  & then return to Spanish Football, concretely Real Madrid.

Now there exists an opportunity to think about the above option. Real Madrid forward GONZALO HIGUIAN is undergoing a "crisis" at the Club due to the lack of playing time because KARIM BENZEMA has won the forward position. This has also lead to frustrations & anxiety within the player as when given the chance to be in the starting line-up Higuain gets "blocked" & does not performance as he would wish. All this has opened the door & the idea that perhaps Gonzalo Higuain should find "greener pastures" & thus guarantee playing Football regularly & Manchester City could be the option.


Options which, according to "Marca" would be:

• straight swap between Higuain & Aguero
• straight swap between Higuain & Aguero + a sum of money
• no swap & pay around 45M€ for Aguero.

Although this all reads great - for some - the operation has obstacle on the path:

• The market price of Aguero is far greater than Higuain
• Higuain may not wish to pay at Manchester City
• Other European Clubs may come into the picture: PSG or Juventus
• Manchester City may have local fans "problems" to solve
• Atletico de Madrid may have forced a "contract clause" that DOES NOT allow Aguero
  to return to Spanish Football until 2 years have passed.

So lets not get too excited about all this, lets all remain calm & watch how - if it does - things evolve. However, you have to agree, "Marca" has put out a great cover, a great selling cover & this is the business of the Sports paper: sell the maximum papers.

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MANCHESTER CITY TARGETS REAL MADRID HIGUAIN?

There are rumours coming out of England that MANCHESTER CITY has its eyes firmly on REAL MADRID forward GONZALO HIGUAIN. These rumours are persistent & now Argentine & Manchester City out of grace player CARLOS TEVEZ comes into the equation.

Gonzalo Higuain

However, some local journos believe this could be a strategy by the representatives of Higuain to force, or let Real Madrid know, that a pay rise is in full order. This & the fact that the player would like to receive more playing time, which thus becomes an indirect message to Coach Mourinho. If it is the latter, it may lift eyebrows as Mourinho has been linked to Manchester City in the last weeks as some think - without solid evidence from Mourinho publicly - that he may leave Real Madrid at the end of the season. Still pure speculation to date.


Either way, it is just rumour & may be "dirty rumour", to which I would sit back & enjoy the rest of the Spanish Football League season & see what occurs in summer, if anything.

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JUVENTUS EYES HIGUAIN &/OR BENZEMA FOR NEXT SEASON

News from Italy, concretely from "Tuttosports" & picked up locally via Spanish Sports daily "As", mentions that JUVENTUS has REAL MADRID forward GONZALO HIGUAIN as mximum signing objective for next season. But there is more, in case it all gets difficult , Juventus has a Plan- B , that is,  KARIM BENZEMA.

Gonzalo Higuain

Both have been for sometime on the Italian Clubs list of players to strengthen the squad. However, the market prices are very steep - Real Madrid will not sell cheap - & the mentioned players - for now - are happy at Real Madrid.

Stay tuned!

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CHELSEA FC EYES GONZALO HIGUAIN

SPANISH SPORTS paper "AS" has picked up on a "rumour" from the UK that Premier League Club CHELSEA FC has put its eye firmly placed on REAL MADRID Argentine International GONZALO HIGUAIN for next season. The paper goes on further & mentions a figure of 49-50M€.

Higuain

The story continues to describe the current "goal drought" experienced by the Chelsea forwards - Fernando Torres, Anelka, Drogba - with the current highest Club goalscorer by a midfielder in Frank Lampard. The Club feels that they need a "proven" goal "animal" which surprises as they paid 58M€ for Torres.

But the same story has a PLAN B. If the possiblity of Higuain is unreachable the other option is ATLETICO DE MADRID Colombian forward FALCAO.

At this stage it is all rumour, a story published in UK. The season is long & Fernando Torres may explode in the coming months to make this idea disappear as smoke. Stay tuned!

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REAL MADRID | GONZALO HIGUAIN IS BACK !

Its always good for SPANISH FOOTBALL to recover a World Football star. That joy is also evident at REAL MADRID as Argentine International forward GONZALO HIGUAIN has returned to the squad for tomorrows Liga match against Real Sporting de Gijon. Why the post on the return of "another" injured player? 


1. Nearly miraculous. Higuain was discarded for the season after a "complicated" back operation.
2. Sports medicine has advanced spectacularly 
3. American Dr. Fessler has gained a whole new market & European fame
4. Higuan returns when he is most needed for Real Madrid ( overload of important matches & Benzema injuried)
5. If you suffer a back hernia & need to be operated, Higuain is your example of getting back fine. 

Gonzalo Higuain: photo jesus aguilar

Gonzalo Higuain will be on the bench & may get some minutes tomorrow as part of a carefully planned "back to work" schedule. Nice to see you again Pipa!
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REAL MADRID 2010 | HIGUAIN TO AVOID SURGERY ON HIS BACK

Good news for the REAL MADRID Club, their many fans & for GONZALO HIGUAIN. The Argentine International will avoid surgery on his back & will recovery from a disc hernia with a more "conservative" treatment. After visiting medical specialists it has been decided that surgery can be discarded & thus reduce radically the recovery time. Higuain has began treatment & could be out of action as long as 6 - 8 weeks (approx.) although the player has mentioned that things are going better than expected. However, if treatment after a couple of weeks is not advancing as expected, the player & the medical team will make a new decision & surgery may be back as the only option, but this at this point has a very low probability.

Gonzalo Higuain

The Christmas break will win the player some time & the Spanish Club has said that a new signing is not on the cards. However, I would take this last comment with a grain of salt, as anything is possible with the upcoming "Winter Transfer Market" opening the 1ºst of Janaury 2011 & several names already sound on the media. Tweet

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