Jermaine Pennant – Too Good For Real Madrid?

By: Daryl | December 24th, 2008

My calendar says December 24th, but this story feels more like April 1st. Apparently Jermaine Pennant – the same Jermaine Pennant who can’t get in the Liverpool team and is a long way off the England team – has rejected a move to Real Madrid. Because they couldn’t meet his wage demands.

Real are (clearly) desperate to sign someone – anyone – capable of standing on the Bernabeu’s right touchline, and finally had a £3.5m million offer for Pennant accepted. But the former drunk driver (and still the best player to ever play in the Premier League while wearing an ankle tag) apparently wanted a rather silly £60k a week (who does he think he is, Steve McManaman?) while Real were thinking more like £30k.

So, the move isn’t going to happen. And we can all have a little chuckle at Jermaine Pennant’s valuation of himself being half that of even a spend-happy team like Real.

But if we’re honest… this is probably a good move for JP. He’s not really Real Madrid class (is he? no, he’s not) and was clearly being signed as a stopgap before they signed a proper Real Madrid right winger in the summer. So maybe this is one case where one team’s crazy transfer policy and one player’s epic over-confidence combined to produce the right result.

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Category: World Football

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CSD

He just didn't want to sit on the bench in Spain when he can do it in England.
Jeff

So the English press is now legit or only when you really, really want it to be? Come on now.
Nate

Maybe if he actually believed himself to be good enough to play at Real, he would've taken it. Clearly he isn't going anywhere with Liverpool, so its either he gets another chance to prove he has some talent or he'll go to a lower-level team and spend the rest of his life being mediocre. Probably a smart move then, since he is pretty mediocre...
Corey

load of BS. Here is how you can tell. One minute he is on his way to Real but his wage demands scuper the deal, and then he is being linked with loan moves to Stoke or West Brom. Anyone see something a little ridiculous in this picture? The Daily Mail really has some imagination...
Gaston

no player in madrid stays there long term. good move on his behalf

very few get stay and finish happily
Mat

haha...that's funny...I'd be so happy if he goes there!!