Madrid fume at kid-napping Reds
by Ben Blackmore, 15 November 2007
Real Madrid have warned Europe’s brightest talents not to waste their careers by joining Liverpool.
Madrid are furious that Rafa Benitez has exercised his powers of persuasion to snatch 16-year-old wonderkid Gerardo Bruna from El Santiago Bernabeu.
The capture is one of a growing trend of Spanish exports heading to The Premier League, with Cesc Fabregas the most successful transfer from Barcelona to Arsenal.
Madrid insist Fabregas is an exception to the rule though, warning youngsters they are more likely to end up like Reds youngster Miki Roque, spending his formative years in the reserves or out on loan.
“I was very surprised when Bruna left because he had been with us for three years and as soon as he was about to mature, Liverpool took him from us,” Real’s youth team coach Michel told The Sun.
“That is what happens all the time in England. When they see someone they like, they just take him.
“They sign the boy to a professional contract, make all sorts of promises and then put him in their reserves and never give him a competitive game.
“How many young players taken by Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal have actually played for their first team and how many have returned?”
Bruna is said to be the latest addition to Benitez’s golden generation, which also boasts highly-rated attacker Dani Pacheco – signed from Barcelona.
Bruna made his debut for Liverpool’s reserves earlier this week.