Barcelona last night
dramatically joined the race to sign £40m-rated Cristiano
Ronaldo.
The Spanish club are scared their arch-rivals Real Madrid could
have stolen a march in trying to lure the brilliant midfielder from
Manchester United.
Starsport revealed last week that Madrid had let it be known they
were prepared to make him the best-paid player in the world on £8m
a year after meetings with his agent Jorge Mendes.
Now Barcelona are trying to put a package together for the
23-year-old after preparing an £80m summer transfer kitty.
The Nou Camp club plan to sell off some of their fading stars like
Deco, Ronaldinho and former Chelsea striker Eidur Gudjohnsen to
finance new deals.
But it was Barca’s influential sport director Txiki Begiristain who
revealed his club’s serious interest in Ronaldo.
He said on Spanish TV programme ‘Gol a Gol’ at the weekend:
“Cristiano Ronaldo is a player we think we can sign in the
summer.
“Barcelona have never said we are not interested in him, but he is
just one of many players we are looking at. We know we need to have
a lot of options.
“It is logical that for the arrival of big expensive players it is
necessary for some to exit. The door is open, but we will not
reveal in advance any names.
“Cristiano Ronaldo is a key player for any club, but I still think
it will be complicated to persuade Manchester United to sell in the
summer.”
