Real are ahead of the curve mate.
Tapping up players years in advance of their contract expiring, getting them to run down their contract's and taking them on frees.
They’ve picked up some calibre of o,Ayer on a free in the last three seasons - clever.
They`d tapped up McManaman about 18mths before he went to them.
One of my mates, is mates with his dad and he`d tell anyone who`d listen to him in the pub, to stick a bung on him going.
Needless to say, no one took any notice of him and he made a fortune on his early bet.