TRANSFER NEWS: ZINEDINE ZIDANE is in talks with Franck Ribery and has told his compatriot a move to Real Madrid would be too good to turn down.
Zidane, who revealed on Saturday that the Spanish giants were tracking the French midfielder, has now announced he is trying to convince Bayern Munich’s prized asset to make the switch to Santiago Bernabeu.
"I am in talks with Franck," the former three times World Player of the Year, who is an advisor to Real president Florentino Perez, told yesterday's edition of French newspaper Le Dauphine Libere.
“He is a fantastic player who has his place at Real. And playing in this team is a career opportunity, which, to me, you do not refuse. It would be a nice opportunity for Franck. It is up to him.”
Ribery, who is also believed to be a United target, is likely to cost a huge amount if reported bids for the 26-year-old are anything to go by. And Zidane, who wore the Real shirt from 2001 to 2006, explained that teams must break the bank if they want to land football’s top stars.
Meanwhile, Valencia sporting director Fernando Gomez has denied media reports an agreement is already in place for David Villa to join Real Madrid. Speculation in Spain has been rife over the last few days that Villa is on the verge of joining Perez’s Madrid revolution.
Reports in Spain on Saturday even suggested Villa’s switch to the Bernabeu had been finalised, but Gomez insists those are wide of the mark. However, he did confirm talks were being held, although he gave no further details and did not say which team was involved.
“What has been published today is false,” Gomez was quoted as saying on his club’s website. “The negotiations are open and are being conducted personally by our president, Manuel Llorente.”
Alexandre Pato will not demand a move away from AC Milan, according to his agent. The Brazil international’s future has become the subject of much debate in recent weeks, with a summer switch away from the San Siro widely touted.
Former Milan boss Carlo Ancelotti, who is now in charge at Chelsea, has been strongly linked with a move for his former starlet.
The Italian coach has made no secret of his admiration for the 19-year-old and has refused to rule out the possibility of lodging a bid.
However, with the Rossoneri having already parted company with former World Player of the Year Kaka, the club are reluctant to lose any more of their top players.
“Pato is under contract with Milan, and the club is the one that decides his fate,” Pato’s agent Gilmar Veloz told Antenna3 Telelombardia. “Publically speaking about his contract is not an issue, but it’s our business.”
Inter Milan president Massimo Moratti is confident striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic will remain at the San Siro. Speculation has been rife that Ibrahimovic is set to move to Barcelona this summer, with Samuel Eto’o going the other way, and increased still further following a recent dinner between Moratti and Barca president Joan Laporta.
The Inter supremo admits a swap deal was mooted but insists both have decided to keep their respective forwards. “I talked with Laporta but in the end we decided to keep our own players: them Eto’o and us Ibrahimovic.”
He added: “I believe it would be difficult for the Swede to leave because we are 100 per cent happy with him.
“Moreover, he seems nice to me because he is cheerful and very professional. It’s not the first time we’ve found ourselves in this situation.”
