Robson: Real offer for Woodgate too much to turn down

BOBBY ROBSON last night conceded that Newcastle could not turn down the £13.4m offered by Real Madrid for Jonathan Woodgate.

Robson maintained he did not want to sell the player but was resigned to the England defender’s departure.

“At his best, Jonathan Woodgate is the best centre half in the country. I’m not interested in profit. But it’s a huge offer, which we have to consider. I don’t want to lose him, but it’s a huge sum of money. It’s also a huge opportunity for him. Do we deny him that? There’s a moral issue here.”