MADRID, March 27 (Reuters) - Real Madrid will try to sign Manchester United forward Cristiano Ronaldo and AC Milan midfielder Kaka for next season, club president Ramon Calderon said on Tuesday.
'We really like him (Cristiano Ronaldo) but he belongs to
Manchester United and they have to decide to sell him first,'
Calderon told Spanish television station Antena 3 in an
interview.
'If that is the case then we'll be first in the queue,
although we won't be paying 80 million euros ($106.2 million)
for him.
'I don't think any player, even someone with Cristiano
Ronaldo's quality, is worth that money, but we are definitely
interested if Manchester United want to sell him.'
Ronaldo is in the midst of contract renewal talks with
United, but Spanish media have reported that Real hope the
Portugal international will reject a new deal and push for a
move to Spain.
Calderon also said he would renew his bid to sign Brazilian
midfielder Kaka from AC Milan, something he had pledged to do
during last year's presidential election campaign.
'Kaka belongs to AC Milan and I spoke so much about signing
him in the election campaign that I'd better keep quiet until we
actually see him here signed up for the club.
'I would love to see both Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo play
for Real Madrid next season, but it won't be easy. Any big club
would have this sort of objective and Real Madrid is a big
club.'
Calderon also said Real were interested in signing Borussia
Dortmund's German international defender Christoph Metzelder who
is expected to leave the German club at the end of the season.
'I'm not aware that any deal has been done yet, but the
club's technical staff like Christoph Metzelder and he will be
out of contract at the end of the season. If he does decide to
come he will sign a three-year deal.'
Calderon hinted that coach Fabio Capello may not remain at
the club beyond the end of the season even though he has another
two seasons to run on his contract.
'Fabio Capello is the Real Madrid coach and he has a
contract and we will make an evaluation of what has been
achieved at the end of the season,' Calderon said.
'It may happen that he might not want to continue, but
you'll have to ask him about that. We'll see what happens at the
end of the season.'
Calderon denied that Real had approached any other coaches
with a view to finding a replacement for Capello.
'We haven't talked nor will we talk to anyone until the
situation changes,' he said. 'Of course I like Bernd Schuster,
Rafa Benitez and (Jose) Mourinho. I like all the great coaches.'
