Real Madrid close in on Heinze

The arbitration panel has ruled that a letter from Manchester United chief executive David Gill which said Heinze could leave Old Trafford for 6.8 million pounds does not constitute consent for Heinze to leave for Liverpool. It has to be for an overseas club.

Well, now Heinze feels that he has no future left at the English club."This is not a war but I have to consider my stay at Manchester United is finished," he said in an interview published in British newspaper Daily Mirror on Wednesday."I am not anti-United but I only wanted to defend my right to search for another club without restriction," he added.

A couple of big guns are looking at the situation closely, most notably Real Madrid who is reportedly close to signing Gabriel Heinze for around 12 million euros. Lyon, who are looking to fill the void left by Brazilian centre-back Cris who has been ruled out for six months with a knee injury seems to be out of the race as they have made an offer of only 9 million euros.

Heinze said he has never spoken to clubs in Spain, France or Italy and was still hoping to join Liverpool."I have never spoken with clubs in these countries because in my head the only option is Liverpool. My hope was to negotiate a transfer to Liverpool but, unfortunately, the Premier League decided in favour of United," he said."The decision is a painful one but my lawyers are still searching for a solution, one that is favourable to all parties," he added.

Soccer Pundit feels that Heinze should just leave the Premiere League and do it fast. I mean, Manchester United has stood by him during his injuries and has always been protective of him even when some glaring defensive lapses were committed, yet he is creating a hell lot of shit at Old Trafford by choosing to go to their arch rival.

This fracas is doing nobody any good, whatever good-will Heinze has for the club or the fans have for him will be tarnished before this storm blows over. Now that the panel has decided that he cannot leave for Liverpool, and Real Madrid (as good a club or even better than Liverpool) is waiting in the wings for him, he is still asking his lawyers for advice.

Seriously, if Heinze really wants to take 'revenge', then move on to Real Madrid and do a one-up on Alex Ferguson on the pitch and close the case. That would certainly be much sweeter than the bad blood existing between both parties right now.