SOCCER:RAFAEL VAN der Vaart's €10 million transfer to Tottenham Hotspur from Real Madrid was officially ratified by the Premier League yesterday afternoon but there was some dispute from the Spanish side regarding Harry Redknapp's claim on Tuesday that Bayern Munich had been prepared to pay €22 million for him before the move broke down. The Spurs manager said: "The fee has come crashing down because the deadline is so close."

Real’s sports director, Miguel Pardeza, told the club’s website: “It is absolutely false that Real Madrid received a €22 million offer from Bayern Munich. In fact, the German team never showed an interest to sign the player, so the allegations made in England have greatly surprised us.”

Spurs lodged the requisite paperwork with the Premier League close to Tuesday’s 6pm transfer deadline and had to wait until yesterday before Van der Vaart was officially confirmed as their player. His signing pushed the defender Jonathan Woodgate out of the 25-man squad for the first half of the league season, which was named by Redknapp yesterday.

The 29-year-old Woodgate has played once in two years for the senior team. His exclusion will fuel speculation that his career may be under serious threat due to a chronic groin problem.

Redknapp said last month: “It’s so sad for Jonathan. He’s such a good player and a great lad. He’s been all round the world trying to find a cure for this groin problem. He’s seen two specialists and he’s going to get one more opinion but they seem to be of the opinion that the only chance is an operation.”

The Holland playmaker Van der Vaart, who featured in the World Cup final admitted concern regarding where he might fit into Redknapp’s team, saying: “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.”