Morientes : walking the beat with the Meringues

As Real Madrid's top scorer in season 1998-99, Spanish centre-forward Fernando Morientes proved an instrumental factor in the departure of Croatian international Davor Suker. In the few months since Morientes' arrival, Suker was already on the way out the door.

Having arrived at the tail end of 1997 season, the Toledo native quickly convinced the club's management, and the supporters, with some fine displays in his first season at the Meringues. Since then, his value has grown considerably and he has become one of the world's most expensive players, with a termination clause in his contract worth around 100 million euros.

Born in a small village 100 km from Madrid, Morientes grew up with aspirations to follow in the footsteps of his father and brother as a police officer. However his footballing talents predicted otherwise and he was soon on his way to Primera Liga football with Albacete.

In competition with Anelka

After making his debut, Morientes played for two seasons before moving to Zaragossa, where he spent another two seasons before Spanish giants Real fell upon his trail. His speed, as it turned out, was not the only feather in his cap. Last season he scored 17 goals in 19 matches with Real and he made a devastating start to his international career against Sweden in 1998, taking less than a minute to score his first international goal. Today his international goals tally stands at 9 goals in....12 games.

With a good shot, excellent ball control and an eye for the goal, Morientes supplements his clutch of talents with equally-good aerial ability. Above all, he gets on just fine with his compatriot Raul, his forward partner at Real with whom he recently joined hands after Real's 3-0 demolitionof Valencia in the 2000 Champions League final.

Morientes' track record suggests that in the national side he could consolidate the centre-forward position. However the competition is fierce, and he still has to prove himself at other levels according to Jose Antonio Camacho, the Spanish team coach.

In addition, regular shifts at Real would do him no end of good and his French teammate, Nicolas Anelka, is hot on his heels. Anelka's transfer from Arsenal last season - a Spanish record - has not been a smooth transition, and the determined and proud Paris native has yet to fully integrate the Meringues' set-up. Morientes has nonetheless had a productive season and, if fate insists, could find his path crossing that of Anelka's in the forthcoming Euro 2000.