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Published: Tuesday September 1, 2009 MYT 7:04:00 AM
Updated: Tuesday September 1, 2009 MYT 10:42:08 AM

Barcelona buys defense, Madrid keeps Van der Vaart

MADRID (AP): European champion Barcelona strengthened its defense and Real Madrid thinned its out while hanging on to Netherlands midfielder Rafael Van der Vaart as the transfer deadline closed at midnight on Monday.

Barcelona was the biggest mover after completing the euro25 million ($35.8 million) transfer of Ukraine defender Dmytro Chygrynskiy from Shakhtar Donetsk.

Meanwhile, Real Madrid right back Miguel Torres joined Getafe on a five-year deal, with the Spanish powerhouse retaining a buyback option on the youth academy player.

Although Madrid continued to be linked with Bayern Munich forward Franck Ribery right up until the deadline, it decided to hang on to Van der Vaart in the end.

"We had a meeting with Real Madrid, and they assured me that they believe in my qualities, and they want me to stay in the club," the Dutchman said on his Web site.

Van der Vaart was believed to be surplus to requirements after new president Florentino Perez spent euro250 million ($363 million) earlier this summer on the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Karim Benzema and Xabi Alonso.

But although Netherlands teammates Wesley Sneijder, Arjen Robben and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar were all sold, Van der Vaart remained at the Bernabeu.

"Real Madrid told me it was never a question about my qualifications as a player, but only a matter of the many new players," Van der Vaart said. "They like my attitude toward wanting to play, and told me very clearly in a meeting (Monday) that they need me and they see me as an important part of the team."

Meanwhile, league and European champion Barcelona sold Iceland midfielder Eidur Gudjohnsen to French club Monaco in a deal that could net the Spanish champions euro2 million ($3 million) depending on the 31-year-old's performances. Gudjohnsen had also been linked with a return to the Premier League with West Ham.

The Catalan club also loaned out Brazilian defender Henrique to Racing Santander for the season.

"The squad is definitely complete," Barcelona president Joan Laporta said after the Catalan club opened its league defense with a 3-0 victory over Sporting Gijon, with euro66 million ($95 million) acquisition Zlatan Ibrahimovic scoring on his debut.

Santander also signed Francisco "Xisco" Jimenez from Newcastle.

Angel Lafita's destination remained uncertain after Zaragoza exercised a buyback option on the Deportivo La Coruna striker.

Zaragoza, newly promoted and having opened the season with a victory, was ready to pay euro3.5 million ($4.5 million) to the Galician club for its leading striker last season, but Deportivo was going to challenge the 11th-hour deal with an appeal to the league.

"We don't agree with how it was done," Deportivo president Augusto Cesar Lendoiro said.

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