MADRID, Spain (AP) _ Real Madrid is lining up Chelsea winger
Arjen Robben as its next transfer target.
The Spanish champions said Wednesday that any deal to bring
Robben to the Santiago Bernabeu stadium is unlikely to go ahead
before next week at the earliest.
``It is a negotiation which will take place in the coming days or
weeks and if the situation is favourable, by which I mean
financially, I think that he is a player who could be brought in,''
Madrid president Ramon Calderon told Spanish radio station Onda
Cero.
The BBC reported Wednesday that Robben had agreed personal terms
on a five-year contract with Madrid and was due to arrive at the
Bernabeu on Friday.
Spanish media reported that Madrid had offered 18 million euros
(C$25.9 million) for the 23-year-old Netherlands winger, but Chelsea
is asking for 23 million euros (C$33.1 million).
Robben, who has endured a testy relationship with manager Jose
Mourinho since his arrival at Stamford Bridge from PSV Eindhoven in
2004, has said he would like to join Madrid.
After his team had beaten the Suwon Bluewings 1-0 in Carson,
California, Mourinho said that he still considers Robben a Chelsea
player _ for now.
``At the moment, he is a Chelsea player with two more years of
contract and he is working well,'' Mourinho told Britain's Press
Association. ``I look at him as a Chelsea player and he has to
compete against very good wingers like we have. I am happy with the
situation.''
New Madrid coach Bernd Schuster met with sporting director Pedrag
Mijatovic earlier this week to review next season's team. They
decided to accelerate the exit of several players this week before
signing anyone new.
After signing centre backs Christoph Metzelder from Borussia
Dortmund and Pepe from FC Porto, Madrid has a surplus of central
defensive options with internationals Fabio Cannavaro of Italy and
Sergio Ramos of Spain also in the squad.
Madrid confirmed that Ivan Helguera is set to soon join Valencia,
while Alvaro Mejia is on the verge of a move to another Spanish
club, with newly promoted Murcia a likely candidate.
With Brazilian defenders Cicinho and Marcelo also on the roster,
veteran Michel Salgado is also expendable but he has three years
left remaining on his contract.
Madrid won its first league trophy in four seasons, ending its
longest major silverware drought in 53 years.
