Ya Nick i saw this too,and i'm not so sure.
I mean i was watching the Champions League final,and the commentator said statisticly speaking Real are a better defensive team without him and that Redondo said in his own words that they play better without him.
So that leads me to question if Hierro lost a step being 32 years old.
By all means there is no doubt that he is a leader,but with Bati coming and Totti already there not to mention Aldair,how many do we need?
I also read today that this could be a very difficult transfer,cause the president and fans love him.But also he has an attachment with Capello when he was in Real