Source: Team_Talk
PL approve Spurs' van der Vaart swoop
Tottenham have confirmed the £8million signing of Rafael van der Vaart from Real Madrid after the Premier League approved the deal.[LNB] Spurs had been sweating on clearance to bring the 27-year-old to White Hart Lane after technical difficulties hampered their efforts to submit the relevant paperwork for the move before Tuesday's 6pm transfer deadline.[LNB]But after investigating the club's claims that there were difficulties involving computer servers used in the transaction between themselves and Real, the Premier League ratified the signing.[LNB]The Premier League said in a statement: "The Premier League can confirm the transfer of Rafael van der Vaart's registration from Real Madrid to Tottenham Hotspur."[LNB]Van der Vaart told De Telegraaf that he was as shocked as anyone at the speed in which the move materialised: "Four years at Spurs, for 11million euros, I can hardly believe it myself.[LNB]"The interest from Tottenham came very quick and I did not have much time to think.[LNB]"But I want to play football again and if possible every week, with a beautiful club. I'm totally happy.[LNB]"I am excited about playing in England. Whether it suits my style remains to be seen, but I think a good footballer can adapt and I am very proud of this transfer."[LNB]Tottenham had earlier announced: "We are delighted to announce that we have reached agreement with Real Madrid for the transfer of Rafael van der Vaart."[LNB]Manager Harry Redknapp last night revealed he was alerted to Van der Vaart's availability just two hours before the window closed.[LNB]Redknapp also claimed the player had been set to join Bayern Munich for £18million on Monday but the move broke down.[LNB]However, that was categorically denied this afternoon by the Spanish giants, with sports director Miguel Pardeza telling his club's official website: "It is absolutely false that Real Madrid received a 21million euro offer from Bayern Munich for Van der Vaart.[LNB]"In fact, the German team never showed an interest to sign the player, so the allegations made in England have greatly surprised us."[LNB]Van der Vaart's transfer is not the first to be assessed by the Premier League over whether a deal has been completed before the deadline.[LNB]In February 2009, they took a day to sanction Andrei Arshavin's move to Arsenal.[LNB]A year earlier, Manchester City were unable to formally announce the signing of Benjani Mwaruwari's from Portsmouth for almost a week due to a wrangle over whether the paperwork had been submitted before the deadline.[LNB]But they needed to make a decision on Van der Vaart by 5pm on Wednesday, as that was the cut-off point for clubs to submit their 25-man senior squads for the first half of the Premier League season.
