"If you put yourself in Real Madrid's position, they paid £8million cash last year. Michael eventually emerges three coaches later as fifth choice, on a big wage and not happy and then somebody knocks on the door and offers to double their money," Parry said.
He added, "I'm sure the first reaction was to rub their eyes in surprise. From our point of view, Michael on the right terms - certainly, but not on the wrong terms. We always felt a deal to bring Michael back on the right terms made sense."
And Parry concluded, "...it did not make sense to pay £16million for Michael and that's a view shared equally by myself and Rafa Benitez. It was never a case of the board trying to force Michael on Rafa. We were absolutely of the same view that £16million was an unrealistic price."