Real Madrid moves for Heinze

Aug 22, 2007 - 7:13 PM By Mike Perez Special to PA SportsTicker

MADRID (Ticker) - Real Madrid has agreed a deal to bring Manchester United defender Gabriel Heinze to the Bernabeu, the Spanish champions announced Wednesday.

Real confirmed the news in a statement on the club's web site.

"Real Madrid and Manchester United have reached an agreement for the transfer of Gabriel Heinze," the statement read.

"The Argentinian, 29, will sign a contract for the next four seasons and will be immediately incorporated into Bernd Schuster's squad."

No fee has been confirmed for the 29-year-old Argentine international, although reports in the Spanish media suggest he will cost Real around $16 million.

The deal ends a protracted saga in which Heinze had appealed to the English Premier League to allow him to leave United for rivals Liverpool.

The Premier League ruled against Heinze but United, aware that the 29-year-old was determined to leave Old Trafford, opted to sell him abroad.

Although the Heinze still wanted to explore the Liverpool option, he knew that by dragging the situation out even further, his chances of moving out of Old Trafford before the August 31 transfer deadline would be limited.

Liverpool's disappointment at seeing him head to Spain will be in contrast to United's relief at the departure of a player who was a fans' favorite after his move from Paris St Germain but who became a pariah for so actively pursuing a move away.

Heinze must still pass a medical but providing there are no problems, he will join Schuster's squad within the next 48 hours as a replacement for long-serving Brazilian Roberto Carlos, who left the Bernabeu for Turkey this summer.