AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani
said Ronaldo was a player they've dreamed of having for a long time as
the Serie A club tried to persuade Real Madrid to release the unsettled
striker.
The two clubs are in negotiations about a possible transfer and Milan
are hoping they can lure the 30-year-old Brazil international back to
Italy.
"Ronaldo is a player we've dreamed about for a long time and we'd love
to have him here," Galliani said of the Brazilian who spent five years
with Milan's rivals Inter between 1997 and 2002.
"The whole of the Milan family, from president (Silvio Berlusconi) to
the caretaker at the training ground, have given the thumbs-up to the
possible arrival of Ronaldo."
Galliani confirmed that Milan had made an offer for Ronaldo, but are
said to be unwilling to pay a transfer fee for a player whose contract
ends in 18 months.
"It all depends on Real, he's their player," he said.
The Gazzetta dello Sport reported Wednesday that Milan have offered
Ronaldo, who cost Real 30 million euros (38.7 million dollars) when they
bought him from Inter in 2002, a staggering six million euros (7.8
million dollars) a season.
Ronaldo, who scored both of Brazil's goals in the 2002 World Cup final
win against Germany and is the highest scorer in the competition's
history, has rarely featured for Real under Fabio Capello.
But at a press conference on Wednesday, the Real coach showed some
reluctance to let Ronaldo leave.
"He's a Real player. I see him with the Real Madrid jersey," Capello
said.
Wealthy Saudi Arabian club Al Ittihad, who have just snapped up
Portuguese winger Luis Figo, are also reported to be keen on signing
Ronaldo. |