KAKA-CRISTIANO RONALDO
Kaka is one of those talented players that aren't too flamboyant. He is precise, clear and smooth. He is undoubtedlly one of the best players in the world. But the team is far from being like the Brazil side we all remember.
Both he and Cristiano Ronaldo are great athletes. You can't have a body like that without taking care of yourself. We've signed two great players that are amongst the top five footballers in the world.
The whole Cristaino matter requires discipline on his part. I'm sure he's aware of that and that he will help us. We will need to protect him once the boom hits the media.
Both players will be presented on different days in July. We will try to adapt to their schedules. We aren't following any particular strategy, but we've always wanted to announce their signings early on.
SPORTS PLANNING
We wanted to sign a Sports Director first, followed by the coach and the players. We still need to sign four or five more footballers, but it will all ultimately depend on how many of them leave the team. We are working on that. Some players have received interesting offers, but many of them don't want to leave. We currently have 31 men on the squad and we'll have to let some of them go gradually.
We want two players to cover each position, but we now have as many as four for some positions. Robben and Sneijder have received the most offers, but reaching the prices we want is a totally different matter.
It is always complicated to sign players, and it may not seem like it by how fast we've signed Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo. To sell we have to agree with agents and their players. This forces you to talk to many parties in one day.
Spanish players are sometimes harder to sign than foreigners. From a financial standpoint, Cristiano's signing could end up being cheap and that of other players expensive.
POSSIBLE SIGNINGS
We've been negotiating to sign Villa for the past week and there have been some differences. It seemed it was done at first, but things got twisted towards the end. There are two or three alternatives to his signing if it doesn't happpen in the end.
We were very interested in Ribery, but Bayern Munich are playing hard to get. They actually don't want to sell him, that's why their asking price is so high.
Benzema is another great player, but this is a very long process and we are going to take things easy. The start of the season is two and a half months away, enough time for us to look at what we do and don't need.
Garay was already signed when we got here. He is an interesting player and he will work with the rest of the team during the pre-season. Pelllegrini will decide what to do with him.
We've met with Getafe to talk about Granero and other issues.
Liverpool made an announcement on Sunday and it seems to me they don't want to sell Xabi Alonso, so it will be hard for him to end up playing here. I've always liked him. He was worth 18 million euros last year because the club didn't deem him an essential players, but it does now. He's had more chances to play and he has responded magnificently well.
RAUL AND GUTI
Raul will have the same chances than the rest of his team-mates. The coach will decide what to do with him. Raul is still in the forefront of football, as proven by his numbers. He has earned the right to stay on the team.
Guti is an excellent person that has received much criticism. People should learn how to read players like him. He has to accept his role on the team. We want him to retire here in a dignified way. I believe in him.
COMPETING WITH BARCELONA
We are preparing to battle with a team that's won three titles in one year. Barcelona were light years away from Real Madrid throughout the entire season. I don't know if it will take one or two years to reach their level, but we're getting closer.
BASKETBALL
The Messina deal isn't done yet, but we've made a lot of progress in the past few days and we hope to seal it next week. Maceiras will be in charge of the section.
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