Real Madrid and Inter in talks over Ronaldo switch
Inter Milan's Brazilian World Cup striker Ronaldo could soon be joining European Champions Real Madrid after the presidents of the two clubs met in Spain on Thursday to discuss a proposed transfer.
"Real Madrid confirm that the president of Inter Milan Massimo Moratti and the president of our club Florentino Perez met during the course of the day," the Spanish club said on its official website on Thursday.
"No agreement over the future of Ronaldo was reached, but the conversations remain open."
Spanish media reported that the meeting between Moratti and Perez had taken place on the Real president's luxury yacht off the coast of the Balearic island of Formentera.
After Inter Milan's 2-1 win over Roma in a friendly on Thursday a club spokesman said: "It was a courtesy meeting out of respect for Real Madrid bearing in mind the close rapport of the two clubs and also to clarify the situation.
"The offer is very, very far away from our valuation of the player. However, further meetings are not ruled out."
Spanish media said Real are thought to have offered between 12 and 20 million dollars plus players in exchange for the 25-year-old striker who top-scored with eight goals during Brazil's triumphant World Cup campaign in June.
Earlier this week Moratti had dismissed suggestions that Ronaldo would be leaving the Serie A club.
"Ronaldo will play one more year for us, against his will, and then he will leave whether we win something or not. Just watch," he said.
But the twice winner of the World Player of the Year award, who was in Brazil for a friendly international against Paraguay on Wednesday, has struck a defiant stance.
"What is certain is that I want to leave," he said. "I have my reasons and the club knows what they are. But there's no need to make them public."
Ronaldo was due to fly to Milan on Friday, but the Inter spokesman said the Brazilian will now return on Saturday.
SIDELINED
Ronaldo joined Inter from Barcelona before the 1997/1998 season but has spent most of the last three seasons on the sidelines following a serious knee injury. His contract runs until 2006.
There were reports last season that Ronaldo and Inter's Argentine coach Hector Cuper had a strained relationship, although Cuper has denied that there has been any dispute between the two.
Real, who have twice broken the world transfer record in the last two years to bring first Luis Figo and then Zinedine Zidane to the club, have been linked with a move for the striker ever since the World Cup.
The European champions are now reported to be offering a cash sum for the former Barcelona player plus a combination of players already on their books.
Spanish internationals Fernando Morientes and Pedro Munitis, Argentine winger Santiago Solari and Brazilian midfielder Flavio Conceicao have all been linked with the deal in the past week.
