Real Madrid coach Manuel Pellegrini insists they have plenty of
cover up front as Ruud van Nistelrooy inches closer to the Bernabeu
exit door.
Van Nistelrooy has been linked to a host of clubs recently
but reports in Spain suggest German side Hamburg have won the race
for the prolific Holland international's signature, although there
has been no official confirmation yet.
When asked about the former Manchester United hitman,
Pellegrini was quoted by AS as saying: "I think Ruud is always
useful.
"But he is a player who unfortunately has had a difficult
season. We tried to play him as much as possible when he was okay,
but he was injured for a long time.
"Now the season is quite advanced and I think he's every
right to take decisions that he thinks are best for him.
"The club has total respect for his career, his capacity as a
player and as a person."
The 33-year-old Van Nistelrooy finished as the leading scorer
in La Liga during his first season with Madrid in 2006/07, but the
latter part of his time with the Spanish club has been plagued by
injuries and he has managed just a handful of appearances this
term.
Madrid have not been short of goals in Van Nistelrooy's
absence though, with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Gonzalo
Higuain, Kaka, Karim Benzema and Raul helping the club net 42 goals
in La Liga so far - at an average of 2.3 goals per game.
And should, as now seems likely, Van Nistelrooy have played
his last game for the Spanish giants, Pellegrini is confident they
have the strength in depth to cope.
"We have four strikers and we are well covered," said the
Chilean coach.
Like Van Nistelrooy, Madrid midfielder Fernando Gago has also
been widely linked to a possible move away during the January
transfer window.
The latest club to show an interest are Manchester City, but
Pellegrini preferred not to comment on speculation about the
Argentina international.
"I cannot talk about the situation of every player. I cannot
be talking about players who could be coming in or going. I will
only talk about it when it's official," Pellegrini added.
