Real fail in Rafael bid

Hamburg reject offer for midfielder

Last updated: 25th July 2008  

Real fail in Rafael bid

Van der Vaart: Real target

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Hamburg have rejected an offer from Real Madrid for midfielder Rafael van der Vaart.

Real Madrid have been tracking the Dutchman for the past few weeks but it was unclear whether they would lodge a firm bid.

The Bundesliga club have now revealed that an approach has been knocked back, with new boss Martin Jol determined to keep his captain and chief playmaker.

"The offer was absolutely out of the question," Hamburg sports director Dietmar Beiersdorfer told German agency SID.

It is understood that Real's offer was in the region of 7million euros (£5.5million).

Van der Vaart is under contract at Hamburg until 2010 but there is a clause which allows him to leave for a fixed price of 1.5million euros (£1.2million) in the year before his deal expires.

The Holland international has publicly stated that he is happy to stay with Hamburg for another season, but Real Madrid midfielder Wesley Sneijder claimed last week that his compatriot was desperate to move to the Bernabeu.