Real targets Robben, Kaka
From Darren Ennis in Brussels, Belgium
June 08, 2007
REAL Madrid is in talks with Chelsea to sign Dutch winger Arjen Robben and are interested in bringing AC Milan's Brazil playmaker Kaka to the Bernabeu, the club president said overnight.
"We are in talks with Chelsea and the player, they are at an early stage but we hope to sign him," said Ramon Calderon at the European Parliament here.
"Bringing Robben was one of my pledges when I was running for president and still remains the case," he added.
During the presidential election campaign last (northern) summer, Calderon said the Dutch international was one of three players he would bring to the club.
Robben, 23, is reported to be close to signing a new contract to keep him at Stamford Bridge until 2012, having turned down Bayern Munich, but Real is still hopeful of prising him away from London as well as landing Kaka from Milan.
"We are waiting with open arms for Kaka. But it is now up to Milan, we know it will be difficult for them. He is the best player in the world right now," said Calderon.
He also backed coach Fabio Capello to stay with the club for another season.
"We will wait until the end of the campaign, but in principle I don't see why he shouldn't continue his adventure with Madrid," he said.
"I have always said that I believed in him and in his past. He carried out a difficult renovation process."
Capello came under fire earlier this season when Real seemed likely to miss out on the league title and even qualification for next season's Champions League.
But the Italy coach has turned things around and Real is top of the table with 72 points, ahead of Barcelona with a better head-to-head record, with just two matches left.
Reuters