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Real Madrid target Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka
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March 28, 2007 22:20 IST

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 are 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."



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