• Premier League

Schalke pull out of Van der Vaart bid

ESPN staff
July 10, 2012
Rafael van der Vaart does not fit in the plans of Andre Villas-Boas © Getty Images
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Schalke chief Clemens Tonnies has revealed that the club have pulled out of a deal for Tottenham midfielder Rafael van der Vaart, paving the way for his return to Hamburg.

Van der Vaart, 29, will be allowed to leave Spurs this summer as he does not fit into new manager Andre Villas-Boas' plans with Schalke manager Huub Stevens last month claiming that the Netherlands international would be a good signing.

However, Tonnies has now called a halt to the negotiations after they were unable to agree on a contract that would reach anywhere near the £70,000-a-week plus bonuses that he is currently on.

"If we had really wanted to have him [Van der Vaart], then we would have got him," Tonnies said. "But it didn't make any sense because we were miles apart. The topic is over."

Schalke general manager, Horst Heldt, added: "Van der Vaart has very high quality but despite this, he does not fit our requirements on a number of levels."

Frank Arnesen, the Hamburg sporting director, has revealed that he would be keen to sign Van der Vaart, who played at the club for three years before joining Real Madrid in 2008 for €13 million.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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