The Anfield outfit tabled a bid of more than �6.8m but United refused to let the Argentine join their bitter north-west rivals. Heinze took his case to a Premier League arbitration panel but it ruled against him.
Heinze, who had lost out on a first-team place at United to Patrice Evra, was considering lodging an appeal when Real made their move. After three seasons at Old Trafford, he will become the third Manchester United player in four seasons to join the Spanish club, following on from David Beckham and Ruud van Nistelrooy. Heinze will replace Brazilian Roberto Carlos, who left the Bernabeu to move to Turkish side Fenerbahce. After a summer of speculation, Chelsea and Real Madrid have finally struck a deal for Robben, who cost the Blues �12.1m in 2004. Real president Ramon Calderon had targeted the Dutchman in his election campaign and landed his man when Chelsea failed to persuade him to sign a long-term contract. "We've done some very good business for Chelsea Football Club," said Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck. "The downside of that he is a very good player and we would have liked him to stay. "But for whatever reason - and you will have to ask him - he did not want to stay here." Robben has scored 19 goals in 104 appearances for the Blues. But after a sensational start at Stamford Bridge, his progress was hindered by injury and Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho brought in attacking midfielder Florent Malouda to replace him. Robben will join fellow Dutchmen Ruud van Nistelrooy, Wesley Sneijder and Royston Drenthe at the Bernabeu.
Source: BBC Sport
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