Kakas two superbly taken goals for AC Milan against Manchester United in the Champions League semi-final, and Cristiano Ronaldos flashing runs, will have been watched with a mixture of envy and frustration by Real Madrid fans last night.
Kaka and Ronaldo were Real’s two big transfer targets for next season, but both options now appear to have been closed off.
Ronaldo recently signed a new contract with Manchester United running until 2012, while Milan have resolutely refused to play ball over Kaka, and last night the Italian clubs vice-president Adriano Galliani made it look even more unlikely. There is no chance that he will leave. I am sorry for Reals fans, he told Spanish television station Antena 3.
Real president Ramon Calderon was voted into office in July on the back of a commitment to bring Kaka to Madrid. The failure to complete the promise has haunted him all season, and especially since they stumbled out of the Champions League in the first knockout round.
Luis Figo, Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo and David Beckham were the galacticos signed by the former president Florentino Perez. If Calderon wants to revive the policy, who should he now turn to? Could crazy money still be enough to prise Kaka and/or Ronaldo away? Or which other players should be on their shopping list?
Mark Elkington reports on Spanish sport for Reuters from Madrid
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8 comments so far
Real Madrid should pump their millions into youth development and better youth scouts instead of being lazy and turning to other club’s star footballers.
- Posted by Five TimesThere’s talk of going for Cesc Fabregas. Diego from Werder Bremen looks pretty good. All the other star players are with Man Utd and Barcelona…
- Posted by RafaMarca are now saying that Real have reached a verbal agreement to sign Javier Saviola at the end of the season. It could be a move by his agent to pressure Barca into offering their promised new deal, but it could also be a coup for Real that might allow them to gain some revenge for letting Samuel Eto’o join their arch-rivals.
- Posted by Simon BaskettHe is still only 25 and has nearly always delivered on the pitch despite being given little opportunity at Barca. If he did join Real, Barca would be criticised for letting him leave every time he scores a goal.
Jonathan Woodgate might be a good signing to shore up that back line. What’s that? Middlesbrough? Oh.
- Posted by jbI agree with the development from within comments - Teams that are purchased amalgams of superstars never quite capturee my imagination.
- Posted by JoeYou do still get a few good players coming through. I’ve heard great things about Miguel Torres.
- Posted by Kevin FylanMoney makes the world go round, but not everthing is about money…. A few super teams compete all for the same players, and Real Madrid is losing track in offering them a motivating project, one with soul. Cristiano Ronaldo is a good proof of this… (helped by his spiritual name) Real should bring soul to its brand and not just a bunch of pop star players
- Posted by LuisI thought Real had abandoned the whole galactico thing. They have a deal for Metzelder, which looks smart, and if they sign up a few more low-key, hardworking players they might just have a team again. Remember it was Makalele who was the key to their last great team, not Zidane.
- Posted by carries