A Piece Of Advice To Perez: Don't Overlook Your Players

In the quest to build a star-studded Real Madrid, Fiorentina Perez has recently taken a big step forward by signing Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo from AC Milan and Manchester United respectively.

The deals are yet to be finalised but clubs involved had agreed the fees and both the players are already looking forward to play for Real Madrid next season.

However, that is not the end of it. Perez is still keen to bring in Franck Ribery, David Villa, Xabi Alonso, and numerous big names in Europe.

David Villa was reportedly wanting a move to Real Madrid only yesterday. And Zinedine Zidane is very confident that Ribery will be playing for Real Madrid next season.

Liverpool do not want to sell Alonso although Perez is still keeping an eye on the Spanish midfielder. Several rumours suggested that Daniele De Rossi was Perez's latest primary target for the defensive midfield role following Liverpool's reluctance to sell Alonso.

Previously, the news regarding Real Madrid's clearance sales made the headlines of many newspapers. Real Madrid denied sending faxes to Premiership teams regarding the availabilities of twelve players including the likes of Wesley Sneijder, Rafael Van der Vaart, Gabriel Heinze, and Arjen Robben.

Despite their denial, the sales of those twelve players are very likely to make ways for the many big names Perez has in mind. The sales of those players can also bring some money back after spending big on Kaka and Ronaldo.

I am assuming that Perez succeed in signing Ribery and Villa. Putting the pieces together, that means Villa will most probably operate as a lone striker with Ribery, Kaka, and Ronaldo roaming behind him.

Raul Gonzalez and Jose Maria Guti will always have a place in the team as their nationality gives them an advantage in cementing a first team spot.

That makes other forwards and attacking midfielders surpluses. Gonzalo Higuain was their top scorer last season and Real Madrid want to keep him in the squad. But would he be happy to be the second or third schoice striker? Or play him out of position?

Ageing Van Nistelrooy and unneeded Javier Saviola will probably be sold at a low price soon. Due to the form of Higuain last season, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar's place in the team is under threat as well should Villa arrive this summer.

It is too early to judge Huntelaar who arrived in January 2009. He has played a total of 20 games for Real Madrid (only six full games) netting eight times, not a bad figure for a player trying to adapt to a new environment.

Dutch trio Robben, Sneijder, and Van der Vaart were also rumoured to an exit. From the three, Sneijder is probably the player Real still need even if Ribery arrives as his versatility enables him to play anywhere in the middle of the park.

However, he is also the most likely to be used as a makeweight to reduce the transfer fee of signing Ribery since he is the highest valued player among the three.

The competition for a place centre midfield is already great with Lassana Diarra, Mahamadou Diarra, Fernando Gago, and Ruben De la Red at their disposals. Not to mention the likes of young Dani Parejo and Javi Garcia in the squad.

Therefore, the arrival of a new centre midfielder would also force Real Madrid to sell a couple of players in that position.

To me, it will be a shame if we don't see players like Higuain, Huntelaar, and Sneijder not starting for Real Madrid next season. Higuain is constantly improving and Huntelaar can only get better. Hence, there is no need to splash cash on David Villa.

Obviously David Villa is better than any of Real Madrid's strikers at the moment but the arrival of world class attacking midfielders like Kaka and Ronaldo will definitely bring the best out of Higuain and Huntelaar. Buying Alvaro Negredo back as a back-up should do the trick.

Meanwhile, Ribery will also be a good addition to the team but I don't expect Bayern Munich to sell him anywhere below €50m, especially after what Real paid for Kaka and Ronaldo. But if it means sacrificing three talented players (Sneijder, Robben, and Van der Vaart) to get Ribery's service, I would say no to the deal.

Fiorentina Perez, please don't overlook the players you already have in the squad.