Javier Saviola has featured just 6 times for Real Madrid since joining the reigning Spanish champions in the summer on a free transfer from Real’s archrivals FC Barcelona and has now come under some heavy transfer speculation in recent weeks.
Saviola has been injured at times in the season but even when has been 100% fit, the Argentine international, once touted as the New Maradona, has failed even to crack into the Real Madrid bench. But the man they call the Rabbit insists that he is eager to stay put at Real Madrid and fight for his place in the first team. He also denies that he contemplates a move away from the Bernabeu in the summer.
Saviola says:
“Right now, I am not considering leaving Real Madrid. I want to play more and to see if by playing more I am capable of reaching heights of club like this.I consider it impossible for me to know after just six games. Nobody at the club has said anything about the rumours in the press, so I cannot say anything.
I have faith that I can turn this situation around. I will do everything that I can. If later on I see that it is too difficult then I will stop trying, but while there is a chance I shall keep going,
Since joining Madrid I have always been positive and I think that the best thing would be a run in the team.
I always knew that it was going to be difficult because of the players here, but as Madrid wanted me and the coach too, it encouraged me to join.”
Strong words indeed but one wonders how player of his class and ability can control his urge to play football all the time. There are more squad changes expected in the summer and president Ramon Calderon would certainly like to add more players to his unit and get rid of some of the wasteful players. Last week Argentine giants Boca Juniors were reported to be interested in signing Javier Saviola but given that Saviola used to play for River Plate before his high profile move to Barcelona at the turn of the century, we could well subtract that variable from the Real Madrid-Javier Saviola equation.