Drenthe: Sneijder situation difficult

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Real Madrid midfielder Royston Drenthe has revealed that team-mate and fellow countryman Wesley Sneijder's future at the Bernabeu is still far from being finalised, as the start of the new la Liga season edges closer.The playmaker has made 52 league appearances - netting 11 times - since joining from Ajax in 2007.But following the expensive acquisitions of Kaka, Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Alvaro Arbeloa and Xabi Alonso, Real are keen to recoup some cash, with Sneijder, Rafael van der Vaart, Arjen Robben, Drenthe himself and Ruud van Nistelrooy all available for transfer, while Klaas-Jan Huntelaar has already joined AC Milan.

The former Ajax starlet - who has been capped 53 times by his country - has been linked with Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United and Aston Villa during the close season.

While Inter Milan have reportedly agreed a €15 million for the Dutchman's services, after the Spanish giants lowered their original asking price of  €20 million.

However, after Spanish daily Marca claimed that the player was on the verge of sealing a switch to the San Siro, the same publication then reported that Sneijder had refused to board a plane to Milan as he remains desperate to stay at Real and fight for his place.

The midfielder has seemingly been stripped of his No.10 shirt, after Lassana Diarra was spotted wearing the same number in Monday's friendly against Rosenborg.

And fellow Dutchman Drenthe has admitted that all is not well between Sneijder and the Madrid hierarchy.

"He is my friend and I won't talk about this topic," he told Antenna 3.

"It's very difficult for him and there are things between the club and Sneijder."

A lack of regular first-team football this season could jeopardise the player's hopes of participating in next summer's World Cup finals in South Africa.

Gregg Davies
Gregg Davies

Gregg Davies is the Chief Sub Editor of FourFourTwo magazine, joining the team in January 2008 and spending seven years working on the website. He supports non-league behemoths Hereford and commentates on Bulls matches for Radio Hereford FC. His passions include chocolate hobnobs and attempting to shoehorn Ronnie Radford into any office conversation.