Real Madrid is prepared to wait it out as it bids to land AC
Milan playmaker Kaka and Chelsea winger Arjen Robben, president
Ramon Calderon has said.
The Spanish champions are keen to bring one or both to the
Bernabeu but have run into stiff opposition from the players' clubs
as the start of the new season draws near.
Kaka has been a target for Real since Calderon came to office
last July promising to land the Brazilian playmaker.
"Last year (sports director) Predrag Mijatovic had negotiations
at an advanced stage but it wasn't possible to get him," Calderon
said in an interview with sports daily Marca on Friday.
"This year he has taken up the issue again but while Milan
wouldn't want to sell him...these situations are resolved when the
player goes and asks that they let him go.
"The people round him are always making nods in our direction
but it is the player who has to go into the president's office to
ask to be allowed to go."
Real is reported to have tabled an offer of more than 80 million
euros for Kaka even though both the Serie A club and the player
have said there is no deal.
"In these situations it isn't possible to say whether it will
happen or not until August 31. It was like this with Ronaldo. He
signed at three minutes to midnight, I believe," he added.
Negotiations for Dutch international Robben appear to be at a
more advanced stage, though Real is reported to be baulking at
Chelsea's asking price of around 36 million euros.
"We have gone for Robben but we are not going to go mad to get
him, we have to negotiate in a reasonable manner," Calderon
said.
Real and new coach Bernd Schuster have signed goalkeeper Jerzy
Dudek, defenders Pepe and Christoph Metzelder and striker Javier
Saviola during the close season.
(China Daily via Agencies August 4, 2007)