Real Madrid chief: No stars left to sign

MADRID (Reuters) -- A lack of star quality in the transfer market is making it difficult for Real Madrid to make any signings this year, says club president Florentino Perez.

Real, who won the European Cup for the ninth time last season, broke the transfer record twice in Perez's first two years in charge to bring in Luis Figo for US$56 million from Barcelona and Zinedine Zidane for $66 million from Juventus.

Real's sporting chief Jorge Valdano recently let slip to reporters that the club were in the market for a central defender and a forward but Perez is now warning there may be no new arrivals.

"The club's policy is to bring in genuine stars and there aren't many of them about," Perez said in an interview with Spanish sports daily Marca published on Sunday.

"There aren't many players like Figo, Zidane, Raul, Roberto Carlos, Fernando Hierro, Fernando Morientes, Ivan Helguera. The stars are already at Real Madrid and I say that with no arrogance.

"I'm not saying there won't be any signings. We're in July and there's still time before September but we're not going to change the philosophy of the club."

That philosophy is to rely on the club's youth setup unless the likes of Figo and Zidane become available.

"I'll always gamble on the youth team," Perez said. "There are great players there and on top of that they're Real Madrid through and through. That's important in making sure the club keeps its identity."

Spanish newspapers have been speculating that Brazilian World Cup winner Ronaldo could be the first name on Real's shopping list but Perez all but ruled out a bid for the Inter Milan forward.

"No one at Real Madrid has made any moves towards signing Ronaldo," Perez said.

"Ronaldo was four years out of the game and that makes it very difficult to put a value on him. Without question he's an extraordinary player but..." he added.

 

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