MADRID – Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho said Saturday he was not a fan of the winter transfer window as his club try to fill the shoes of injured Argentine forward Gonzalo Higuain. Real have been rebuffed in their attempts to land former star and Dutch veteran Ruud van Nistelrooy, with Hamburg having turned down a two million euros offer.
And Mourinho said that he felt Real were being hard done by in their attempts to cover for Higuain, with rival clubs holding out for big money, while he opined that French striker Karim Benzema was not sufficient coverage for his needs. “I don’t like the winter transfer window – I never have,” said Mourinho told a press conference.
“Sometimes you have to make use of the window to compensate for injury problems,” added Mourinho, saying that in Higuain’s absence Real had “a space to fill.” But with Hamburg holding on to their man at least for now and other clubs demanding high prices Mourinho showed his frustration.
“I am an agreeable person and all I want is a centre forward either loaned out or sold for a small amount of money,” said the former Porto, Chelsea and Inter Milan boss. Of Benzema, who has performed in fits and starts in his two seasons since joining from Lyon, Mourinho said: “He must give more, though he is a fine lad. We are all waiting for him to show more of his qualities as he has potential.
