United targets Roberto Carlos -- report

MADRID, Spain (AP) -- Real Madrid defender Roberto Carlos looks to be the target of soccer powerhouse Manchester United, with a Spanish newspaper reporting the English club is about to offer 60 million euros (US$56.08 million) for the Brazilian star.

In an interview published Wednesday in leading Spanish sports daily Marca, Carlos said he had received several telephone calls from Manchester manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

"It's true that Manchester wants me. Its interest is not new," Carlos told Marca from South Korea, where he is preparing for the World Cup. "Manchester has been asking about me for the last two years. Ferguson has spoken to me on various occasions and has told me that he likes me as a player."

In a separate report Wednesday, Marca said that officials from the English club would travel to the Spanish capital within the next few days to table its offer.

The radio station Cadena Ser said on Tuesday night that United was prepared to offer Roberto Carlos a five-year contract.

The 29-year-old, who has three years remaining on his contract with Madrid, said a deal between two of the world's biggest clubs did not depend on him.

"I don't know whether they are talking at the moment. If they want to sit down and speak about a transfer they can do so. I'm not going to raise any objections if one club wants to sell and the other wants to buy. If they did reach an agreement that's where I would come in," he said.

The reported figure is similar to the sum Madrid paid its archrival FC Barcelona for the Portuguese international Luis Figo in July 2000 in what was then a world-record transfer.

Madrid broke the record a year later when it signed French midfielder Zinedine Zidane from Juventus for dlrs 65 million.

Roberto Carlos has a buy-out clause US$to his contract of 87.6 million euros (US$81.8 million).

Madrid coach Vicente del Bosque reacted to the report by describing Roberto Carlos as "irreplaceable", while the club's sports director Jorge Valdano said that he was surprised.

"It's a spectacular exercise in imagination," Valdano was quoted as saying by sports paper As on Wednesday.

Last September, Roberto Carlos held talks with Madrid amid reports that considered that his pay and status did not reflect his value to the club.

Since he arrived from Inter Milan in 1996, the Brazilian has won three Champions Leagues and two domestic titles, with his attacking flair and spectacular shooting making him a firm favorite with Madrid supporters.

 

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