Real Madrid C.F. 2007/08

Everything I have read is that Schuster wants to employ the rombo in midfield. That said, I did not see yesterday's friendly so I don't know exactly how it works out in practice. Obviously Guti will drop down when we lose possession but defending won't be his primary concern (whereas it was everyone's primary concern under Capello).

Real not given up on Kaka just yet - Schuster

MADRID, July 29 (Reuters) - Real Madrid have not given up hope of landing a high-profile player such as Kaka to bolster their squad for next season, new coach Bernd Schuster has said.

'A few months ago Real were after (Manchester United's) Cristiano Ronaldo, then after (AC MIlan's) Kaka and offered €80 million for him. This option is still there,' Schuster told German television station ZDF.

'We've got a big fat suitcase full of cash, and there will definitely be a player or two to come. But it's difficult to lure top players away from their clubs,' he said on Saturday.

The Spanish champions have already brought in four players to strengthen the side ahead of next season, spending €30 million to land centre-back Pepe from Porto.

But the other three, Germany defender Christoph Metzelder, Poland goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek and Argentina striker Javier Saviola, have all arrived as free agents and none have filled Real's demanding fans with excitement for next year.

Kaka has been a target for the Madrid club since president Ramon Calderon was elected in July 2006 when he promised to sign the Brazilian playmaker.

Last month their drive to secure Kaka appeared to have run into a dead end as the player committed himself to Milan, where he has a contract until 2011. Kaka said the door was closed for a move unless the Italian club chose to sell him.

Another target, Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas, has also ruled himself out of a move to the Spanish capital.

However, Real believe they are close to landing Chelsea's Dutch winger Arjen Robben. They are reported to have tabled a €31 million bid, although the Premier League side have resolutely refused to accept their offer so far.

Spanish media have reported tht Robben and Feyenoord fullback Royston Drenthe are set to join Real next week.

Marca has a headline (no article linked to it yet) saying Kaka's advisor has confirmed that you have made an offer of 90 million euros.

and we couldnt pay 3m euros more for reyes

I think your club forgets one man in all of this: Berlusconi. He is ridiculously rich (more than 50 times the suitcases you have), and unless he sanctions it, Kaka will never move.

Remember Sheva was 30 when Milan sold him, so they could let him go then. Even if Kaka asks for a transfer before 2012 (like in 2011 or so), Berlu will keep him.

Milan have been accused a lot by Barca fans of mentioning Dinho and Eto'o. But Milan, since trying for them earlier this summer, have always said they're not for sale.

Jaime told me not to pay attention to tabloids such as AS. But now Schuster is talking about Kaka and C. Ronaldo also!!!!! Anyway, I don't expect much else...

I'll quote Berlusconi from 6 days ago: "No man can come to the President of Milan and beat him on economic terms. No man can come to Berlusconi and say we're taking Kaka because we're offering more. Is that clear?"

Poor Forza, still can't let it go...when Schuster said that he was looking for a player like Ballack a reporter (from AS, no doubt) asked if Kaka would fit the description and he said yes. But he also said that players like Ballack and Kaka were already at important clubs with aspirations of winning the CL so it was not realistic to think about them.

If Berlusconi won't sell Kaka, then you have nothing to worry about and you can quit posting about the matter.

And I have not seen any comments from Schuster, nor Calderon, regarding Cristiano Ronaldo.

Forza Italia!Forza Milan! wrote:I think your club forgets one man in all of this: Berlusconi. He is ridiculously rich (more than 50 times the suitcases you have), and unless he sanctions it, Kaka will never move.

Remember Sheva was 30 when Milan sold him, so they could let him go then. Even if Kaka asks for a transfer before 2012 (like in 2011 or so), Berlu will keep him.

Milan have been accused a lot by Barca fans of mentioning Dinho and Eto'o. But Milan, since trying for them earlier this summer, have always said they're not for sale.

Jaime told me not to pay attention to tabloids such as AS. But now Schuster is talking about Kaka and C. Ronaldo also!!!!! Anyway, I don't expect much else...

I'll quote Berlusconi from 6 days ago: "No man can come to the President of Milan and beat him on economic terms. No man can come to Berlusconi and say we're taking Kaka because we're offering more. Is that clear?"

i too misread the quote, he clearly didnt say he wanted Kaka but he wanted a player similar to him and werent afraid to spend lots of money on him

Jaime wrote:Poor Forza, still can't let it go...when Schuster said that he was looking for a player like Ballack a reporter (from AS, no doubt) asked if Kaka would fit the description and he said yes. But he also said that players like Ballack and Kaka were already at important clubs with aspirations of winning the CL so it was not realistic to think about them.

If Berlusconi won't sell Kaka, then you have nothing to worry about and you can quit posting about the matter.

And I have not seen any comments from Schuster, nor Calderon, regarding Cristiano Ronaldo.

"A few months ago Real were after (Manchester United's) Cristiano Ronaldo, then after (AC MIlan's) Kaka and offered €80 million for him. This option is still there."

The Italian press reported it as the option being there for Kaka or/and C. Ronaldo. Maybe, lost in translation, but his comments don't seem as innocuous as you suggest. This is a serious question: were his words twisted in the excerpt mexicanbecks posted?

Anyway, I have taken your advice, and I have started ignoring AS. But Calderon also said this morning that in a year you would have Cesc, then the year after that Kaka.

I don't know where that quote from Schuster came from. I listen to or read the transcripts of all of his press conferences and I have not seen any quotes like that. And where did Calderon say this about Kaka and Cesc? Last year? The only thing players that he has mentioned to the Spanish press in weeks are Robben, Drenthe, and Reyes. And he said that if we sign one or two of that trio then the squad will be complete. If the squad is complete with Robben or Drenthe or Reyes then it means we are not going after Cesc or Kaka. I don't see why it is so difficult to understand. Could it be, perhaps, that the Italian press have invented quotations?

Jaime wrote:Where did Calderon say this? The only thing players that he has mentioned to the Spanish press in weeks are Robben, Drenthe, and Reyes. And he said that if we sign one or two of that trio then the squad will be complete. If the squad is complete with Robben or Drenthe or Reyes then it means we are not going after Cesc or Kaka. I don't see why it is so difficult to understand. Could it be, perhaps, that the Italian press have invented quotations?

You speak Spanish so maybe you can understand this:

Non poteva mancare la domanda sulle promesse elettorali non mantenute, Robben, Cesc e Kakà. "Arriveranno tutti entro la fine del mio terzo anno di mandato: potremmo ipotizzare che Robben arrivi subito, Cesc tra un anno e Kakà il seguente".

It's all over the Italian press. Gazzetta is also very well respected.

http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Estero/Primo_Piano/2007/07_Luglio/29/calderon.shtml

Also, Calderon not too long ago said things like Kaka's cycle with Milan is over, and I continue to believe he will try and leave. This was pretty much confirmed in reputable sources in English as well.

I can tell you the truth, I have not seen or heard Calderon say anything like this in recent weeks. I remember him saying something vaguely similar when he was running for President. His electoral promises included Kaka, Cesc, and Robben. But he has not, to my knowledge, made any statements of the like.

I'm not saying Gazzetta has fabricated the quote all-together. But they may well have gone back to the archives to dig that out.

Jaime wrote:I don't know where that quote from Schuster came from. I listen to or read the transcripts of all of his press conferences and I have not seen any quotes like that.

Schuster gave an interview to German television (ZDF) saying that. That is the original source.

Jaime wrote:I can tell you the truth, I have not seen or heard Calderon say anything like this in recent weeks. I remember him saying something vaguely similar when he was running for President. His electoral promises included Kaka, Cesc, and Robben. But he has not, to my knowledge, made any statements of the like.

I'm not saying Gazzetta has fabricated the quote all-together. But they may well have gone back to the archives to dig that out.

Ok. The Schuster quotation was made to a German channel I guess (from Mexicanbecks's article):

Schuster told German television station ZDF.

I just looked up the article in the Gazzetta website and it says the quotes come from an interview with Calderon in El Pais. But there is no interview with Calderon that I can find on the El Pais site. In fact, when I search for articles relating to Calderon the first one that comes up is headlined: Calderón reconoce que "no hay posibilidad de contratar a Kaká"

Here is the interview, I don't speak German -- he does mention Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka but it seems like the interviewer is talking about other big transfers by Real Madrid. I don't understand the full context. Maybe Blut can help us? The exchange begins around the 2:00 min. mark of the video.

http://www.zdf.de/ZDFmediathek/inhalt/9/0,4070,5579049-5,00.html

So what's everyone opinon us missing out on Reyes.

TM wrote:So what's everyone opinon us missing out on Reyes.

is it official? if so im highly upset... although he was a bit inconsistent he was great at the beginning of the season. he is young and spanish would hav ebeen a great buy

Not offical yet. But Looks like that.

It's not official yet but if he does sign for Atletico I will be disappointed because I think for 12m. we will have missed out on a golden opportunity to sign a young, talented, Spanish player. I am convinced that he would have flourished under Schuster.

It's disappointing that Calderon would not make the effort to raise our offer by two million euro. That said, if Reyes was so impatient (still well over a month before the transfer window closes) for a deal to be agreed upon between Real Madrid and Arsenal that he is willing to jump to a mediocre club like Atletico -- then good luck to him.

DUDEK GETS INJURIED!!!

!

Jaime wrote:Here is the interview, I don't speak German -- he does mention Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka but it seems like the interviewer is talking about other big transfers by Real Madrid. I don't understand the full context. Maybe Blut can help us? The exchange begins around the 2:00 min. mark of the video.

http://www.zdf.de/ZDFmediathek/inhalt/9/0,4070,5579049-5,00.html

Thanks for looking into that man.

Maybe if Blut or Dark Savante see this they can help us out.

First, the interviewer asks him how sure he is about fullfilling his contract (3 years) at Real, knowing that Real has fired 12 coaches in the last few years, including Heynckes after winning the CL even. Schuster replies that he is not sure at all, and that the pressure is very high, as he expected. At Real, they don't just expect silverware, they expect you to win it with style, something last years team lacked. He confirms that this was the main reason for him to be signed.

When asked about possible transfers in the next few weeks, knowing that Real was never reluctant to spend big in the past, Schuster says that Real were seriously interested in Christiano Ronaldo a few months ago, and offered €60-70M for him. The same applies to Kaka, when Real offered €80M, while there still is a possibility for the transfer to happen in this case (compared to Ronaldo). There is a lot of money to spend, but it is very difficult to sign players who are playing for a big club already. But it is important to him to have more balance in the team foremost. In the past, quality backups / alternatives on certain positions were non existant, while on other positions, Real had too many players.

Asked about Ballack, he says that Real have been interested in him for a long time, and that he would fit in perfectly. However, it's another player who is playing for a big club (Chelsea), earning a lot of money already etc., so it's not easy to get him either.

Finally he talks about Real's image, the treatment of the fans etc. He says that Real needs to become more open (to the fans), that the players have to realise what an honour it is to play for the club, and that they have to be role models, have to behave themselves in the public etc.

At the end of the interview, he is asked about doping, and rumours about Real players being on the list of Fuentes. He says that he can't imagine them to be true. He also says that he'd love to work in Germany again.

Thank you Blut! I don't see anything wrong with the statements he has made. I'm sure Forza will see it differently but that is his business.

When did Real offer money for C Ronaldo ?

A few months ago, apparently.

TM wrote:DUDEK GETS INJURIED!!!

!

for how long and where did you read this

Jaime wrote:A few months ago, apparently.

David Gill kept real quiet .. still , there's no snowball chance in hell they will sell Ronaldo.

Regarding the Kaka situation , of course Adriano Galliani , Berlusconi + the player have all come and said that Kaka will be at the club till 2012

If Milan are reluctant to sell + the player for the foreseeable future wants to stay , this must end the matter.

Raifael wrote:

Jaime wrote:A few months ago, apparently.

David Gill kept real quiet .. still , there's no snowball chance in hell they will sell Ronaldo.

Regarding the Kaka situation , of course Adriano Galliani , Berlusconi + the player have all come and said that Kaka will be at the club till 2012

If Milan are reluctant to sell + the player for the foreseeable future wants to stay , this must end the matter.

there is no matter though, he just said he wants a big name player LIKE kaka. they sad we have the funds and we would like a big name player but it doesnt have to be him as it seems its not happening

Mexicanbecks wrote:

TM wrote:DUDEK GETS INJURIED!!!

!

for how long and where did you read this

Muscle overload, didn't complete training. Probably a week or two out.

Mexicanbecks wrote:

Raifael wrote:

Jaime wrote:A few months ago, apparently.

David Gill kept real quiet .. still , there's no snowball chance in hell they will sell Ronaldo.

Regarding the Kaka situation , of course Adriano Galliani , Berlusconi + the player have all come and said that Kaka will be at the club till 2012

If Milan are reluctant to sell + the player for the foreseeable future wants to stay , this must end the matter.

there is no matter though, he just said he wants a big name player LIKE kaka. they sad we have the funds and we would like a big name player but it doesnt have to be him as it seems its not happening

Ballack is a BIG name even Robben