Madrid still want Kaka

Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon has said he is still hopeful of completing his election promise to sign AC Milan's Kaka, despite the player saying he was happy where he was.

Kaka signed a contract extension with Milan until 2011 in June and has told the Serie A club's website he is content and that he never said he wanted to a move to Real.

A week ago Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani said the club would not negotiate with Real for the player.

Nevertheless, Calderon will still apttempt to lure the Brazilian midfielder away from the San Siro.

"It is true that when I presented myself as a candidate I had this objective and (coach) Fabio Capello and (sports director) Predrag Mijatovic said he would do very well for us," Calderon told Real Madrid television.

"Mijatovic told me he was confident he would come and I continue hoping it will be so. It is another thing to make it happen but I still believe it is possible."

Milan were involved in Italy's match-fixing scandal and will start next season with an eight-point deduction in the league. They have been allowed to compete in the Champions League and will play Red Star Belgrade in the third qualifying round next week.

If Kaka plays, he would become ineligible to play for Real in Europe this season, if he moved.

Mijatovic told a news conference on Wednesday: "Italian football has had problems but it seems as though Milan will retain their top-flight status. This is a setback to our plans but we have other strategies that could work.

"He is a great player but we want players who can play in every competition. The Champions League is very important to us. We will see what happens in the next few days."

Real have already signed Italian defender Fabio Cannavaro, Brazilian midfielder Emerson and Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy since Calderon became president at the beginning of July.

Capello has said he was expecting five signings. Spanish media report Real are also interested in bringing Arsenal forward Jose Antonio Reyes to the Bernabeu.

Mijatovic added: "Reyes is a player with a lot of talent but we are focusing on other priorities at present. We still have a month until the end of the transfer window so we should remain calm."