Friday, June 5, 2009

Ibrahimovic open to Barcelona offer, says agent


Inter Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic would welcome a move to European champions Barcelona, according to his agent.

Reports have been rife that the two clubs are discussing a deal after Inter president Massimo Moratti was spotted meeting Barca counterpart Joan Laporta in a hotel in Spain.

"I only know that if the two clubs find an agreement we would not have trouble agreeing with Barcelona," agent Mino Raiola told reporters.

Spanish daily Marca are reporting that Ibrahimovic could cost the Catalan club £60m, while Italy's Gazzetta dello Sport claim Inter want Barca striker Samuel Eto'o and a £30m transfer fee in return for their star player.

Ibrahimovic, who finished the season as Serie A's top scorer, has previously stated that he has "won everything in Italy" and hinted that it was time to move on to a new challenge.

"I don't know what else I can still do in Italy," Ibrahimovic told Sky Italia earlier this week. "When I arrived here many criticised me, saying I was a fantastic player, but I couldn't score goals.

"Now I have won the Capocannoniere (top scorer) title and proved myself. I could not have done any better than this. I have won five Scudetti (league titles), the Super Cup, I'm missing the Coppa Italia, but that's okay."

If Ibrahimovic were to leave for Spain, it would be another huge blow to Italy's top flight with AC Milan's Kaka also on the brink of signing for Real Madrid.



soccernet.espn.go.com

Real must pay £26m penalty if Ronaldo bid fails


The Madrid official was asked about the infamous, but as yet unseen, pre-contract agreement for the FIFA World Player of the Year and if it stipulated that Madrid would have to pay €90m to sign Ronaldo or a €30m penalty if they did not.

"Yes.. but that is not our fault," Tapias told Spanish Radio station Cadena COPE. "Ronaldo is a great player. I remember when I was last at the club and Figo was here telling people about him. He is one of the best players in the world.

"That he has a special character and that the price is exorbitant is also true. Maybe FIFA should put a €50m price cap on transfers."

The pre-contract, allegedly agreed by ousted Real chief Ramon Calderon and facilitated by Ronaldo's agent Jorge Mendes, is believed to expire at the end of June, giving Madrid just over a fortnight to complete the deal.

United have repeatedly denied the existence of any agreement.

Newly-elected Los Blancos president Florentino Perez has made no secret of his intentions to sign the world's biggest names this summer and has openly stated he wants AC Milan star Kaka and Ronaldo to head to the Santiago Bernabeu.

Real Madrid will have to pay Manchester United forward Cristiano Ronaldo a fee of around £26m if they fail to sign him during the summer, according to the Spanish club's vice-president Fernando Tapias.

Perez, who presided over the galacticos era of Zindine Zidane and Luis Figo during his first stint in charge, said: "The best players in the world, the ones that have won the Fifa World Player of the Year award are Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo - they are the players Real Madrid fans demand.

"We have to will to complete the transfer of Kaka, we are not nervous and I hope in a few days we will happily announce the deal.

"I have said Ronaldo does interest us. We have to resolve this and the other big signings in this month of June.

"It seems in the case of Ronaldo he does have a get-out clause and it means if the player brings the money stipulated in the clause he can go."

Madrid are expected to complete the £60m signing of Brazil international Kaka on Monday.



soccernet.espn.go.com