Real coach says team 'needs' Chelsea's Robben
First Published: Jul 31, 2007
Real Madrid coach Bernd Schuster says his side "needs" Chelsea's Dutch international winger Arjen Robben, seen here in February 2007, who has two years left on his contract with the London club.
Real Madrid coach Bernd Schuster says his side "needs" Chelsea's Dutch international winger Arjen Robben who has two years left on his contract with the London club.
"It is clear that since the beginning the problem was on the left side where we only have a defender and not a striker. Robben interests us, we need him," the Web site of sports daily Marca quoted him as saying in Germany.
Spanish sports daily AS has reported that Real is willing to pay up 20 million euros (27 million US dollars) for the 23-year-old who is unhappy with his terms at Chelsea.
Robben has been in long drawn-out negotiations with Chelsea over a contract extension until 2012 but has not always been in favour with the club's Portuguese coach Jose Mourinho.
Schuster also said he believes it is just a matter of time before they sign Brazilian star Kaka from Italian side AC Milan.
"I am sure he will play at Real Madrid," he said, adding the Spanish champions have wanted the 25-year-old player since last year.
"The president and the sports director insist on signing him and if it does not happen this year it will be next year," he said.
Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon has put Kaka, who was inspirational in Milan's Champions League triumph last season, on the top of his wish list.
Marca reported Monday that Real are set to offer AC Milan a record 90 million euros for Kaka, who is under contract with the Italian side until June 2011.
The biggest transfer in football history so far was that of Zinedine Zidane when he signed for Real Madrid from Italian side Juventus in 2001 for 75 million euros.
Real Madrid are in Germany where they face Hanover in an exhibition match on Tuesday night before heading to Russia where they will play another friendly in Moscow. The team is scheduled to return to Madrid on August 5.
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