Jermaine Pennant’s hopes of securing a dream move to Real Madrid appear to have been dashed after the Spanish giants withdrew their £3m offer to Liverpool.
The Reds received a bid from Real for their out of favour winger two days before Christmas but the proposed deal has now mysteriously collapsed.
Initially, personal terms were said to be a possible stumbling block but sources in Spain have indicated that Real withdrew their offer at the request of manager Juande Ramos who is said to be unconvinced about Pennant’s ability to make an impact at the La Liga club.
Pennant has become an increasingly peripheral figure at Anfield and has not made a single appearance in Rafa Benitez’s side in more than two months.
The 25-year-old is set to become a free agent in the summer and Liverpool would have been delighted to receive a £3m fee for a player who can walk away for nothing in six months time.
But with Real now looking at alternatives it seems highly unlikely the deal will be resurrected, despite Pennant having admitted to being attracted to a move to Spain.
“I cannot imagine playing for another Premier League team after Liverpool,” Pennant told website guillembalague.com.
He added: “I know Real Madrid made an offer for me. Real Madrid is a great club, so is Liverpool.
“I am not sure of the situation now; I am flattered that a club as huge as Real has shown interest in me, so we will have to see.
“I just want to play regular football and one of my dreams is to be able to do it in Spain one day. I love the way teams like Sevilla, Barcelona, Valencia or Real play.
“I think my style of football will suit La Liga.”
Wigan have maintained an interest in Pennant throughout this season and could provide an alternative should Real not return to the negotiating table.
Latics boss Steve Bruce is thought to be keen to recruit the Nottingham-born wide man who he actually sold to Liverpool when manager of Birmingham.
Pennant played some of the best football of his career under Bruce before signing for the Reds in a £6.7m transfer in July 2006.
Bruce is refusing to rule out a move for his former player although Wigan are unlikely to be willing to match the offer Real Madrid tabled before making a dramatic about-turn.
The Reds received a bid from Real for their out of favour winger two days before Christmas but the proposed deal has now mysteriously collapsed.
Initially, personal terms were said to be a possible stumbling block but sources in Spain have indicated that Real withdrew their offer at the request of manager Juande Ramos who is said to be unconvinced about Pennant’s ability to make an impact at the La Liga club.
Pennant has become an increasingly peripheral figure at Anfield and has not made a single appearance in Rafa Benitez’s side in more than two months.
The 25-year-old is set to become a free agent in the summer and Liverpool would have been delighted to receive a £3m fee for a player who can walk away for nothing in six months time.
But with Real now looking at alternatives it seems highly unlikely the deal will be resurrected, despite Pennant having admitted to being attracted to a move to Spain.
“I cannot imagine playing for another Premier League team after Liverpool,” Pennant told website guillembalague.com.
He added: “I know Real Madrid made an offer for me. Real Madrid is a great club, so is Liverpool.
“I am not sure of the situation now; I am flattered that a club as huge as Real has shown interest in me, so we will have to see.
“I just want to play regular football and one of my dreams is to be able to do it in Spain one day. I love the way teams like Sevilla, Barcelona, Valencia or Real play.
“I think my style of football will suit La Liga.”
Wigan have maintained an interest in Pennant throughout this season and could provide an alternative should Real not return to the negotiating table.
Latics boss Steve Bruce is thought to be keen to recruit the Nottingham-born wide man who he actually sold to Liverpool when manager of Birmingham.
Pennant played some of the best football of his career under Bruce before signing for the Reds in a £6.7m transfer in July 2006.
Bruce is refusing to rule out a move for his former player although Wigan are unlikely to be willing to match the offer Real Madrid tabled before making a dramatic about-turn.
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