Sneijder and Robben return to Madrid (Feature)

By Duncan Shaw May 18, 2010, 6:03 GMT

Madrid ­ Real Madrid are mightily relieved that Barcelona have not reached the Champions League final, which will be played in their Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on May 22.

Hundreds of madridista' fans celebrated in the capitals streets when, on April 28, Inter Milan edged out Barca in the semi-finals.

The prospect of Barca retaining their European crown in the Estadio Bernabeu was an appalling one from a Real point of view.

But just because Barca will not be there does not mean that there will be no embarrassment for Real.

10 months ago Florentino Perez returned to the Real presidency after a three-year absence, and immediately embarked on a record- breaking spending spree to build a team capable of ending Barcas Spanish and European domination.

Perez raised eyebrows and received criticism for, in the middle of a profound economic crisis, splashing out more than 260 million euros (330 million dollars) on the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka and Karim Benzema.

In order to pay for part of these signings, and in order to keep the squad down to 23 players, Real had to sell off several stars. Nine players were shown the door including, controversially, Wesley Sneijder and Arjen Robben.

Online polls taken by sports dailies AS and Marca showed that the fans wanted the two Dutchmen ­ both of them expensive signings in July 2007 - to stay. Coach Manuel Pellegrini also wanted to keep them. But off they went, to Inter and Bayern Munich respectively.

Sneijder and Robben were furious at being sent packing. They were both determined to prove Perez and Jorge Valdano, Reals general director, wrong.

This is exactly what they have done in the past 10 months. Both will play in the final, to the embarrassment of Perez and Valdano, whose expensive new team crashed out against unfancied Olympique Lyon in the round of 16.

Sneijder and Robben, aged 25 and 26, are the two most important Dutch players at the moment, and will be fundamental parts of the Netherlands team at the World Cup finals in June.

Sneijder joined Real from Ajax in 2007 for around 27 million euros and made an excellent start in Madrid, but then lost his place in 2009 due to injuries and poor form.

He has quickly become the main man in the Inter midfield, with his hard work, precise passing and eye for goal. He scored one of the goals against Barca in the 3-1 semi-final first-leg win in Milan.

Inter coach Jose Mourinho said last week that it was really good for us to get Wesley from Real Madrid. He has been very important for us all season.'

So much so that Sneijder now stands poised to help Inter to an unprecedented treble of Italian league and cup plus Champions League.

After eliminating Barca, Sneijder said that it will be lovely to return to Madrid, after the way that I had to leave.'

Robben was almost as infuriated as Sneijder at being shown the door by Real.

It is never pleasant to be told that you are not wanted,' he said after helping Bayern to defeat Lyon in the semi-finals.

I have nothing against Real, they are a great club,' Robben added, but it was not pleasant being sold off like that.'

Real paid Chelsea 36 million euros for Robben in 2007 but enjoyed only occasional flashes of his mesmeric dribbling and powerful shooting, largely due to a series of niggling ankle injuries.

The mercurial winger has rebuilt his career in Munich under compatriot coach Louis Van Gaal. He has proved to be the veritable success story of this seasons Champions League, scoring vital goals against Lyon, Manchester United, Fiorentina and Juventus.

Robben will be especially important to Bayern in the final because of the teams other winger, Franck Ribery, is suspended after being sent off against Lyon.