Sports / Soccer |
Real keen on Chivu, aim to off-load Cassano and Emerson(Reuters)Updated: 2007-07-04 09:06 MADRID, July 3 - Spanish champions Real Madrid are trying to sign Roma centre-back Cristian Chivu and off-load Brazilian midfielder Emerson and Italy striker Antonio Cassano, according to club president Ramon Calderon. "Chivu is a centre-back we like, he's left footed and can also play at full-back, but for us to sign him Roma have to want to sell him," Calderon told radio station Cadena Ser on Tuesday. The Romanian international has been linked with moves to Inter Milan and Barcelona, but the Catalans are now reported to be targeting Real Zaragoza's Argentine centre-back Diego Milito to strengthen their defence. The Real Madrid chief said Emerson, who joined Real from Juventus for a reported 14 million euros last season, could leave the club together with another former Roma player Cassano. "It looks like Emerson and Cassano won't continue at the club," said Calderon. "Cassano has had an unsustainable relationship with the club for the last couple of months and although there is nothing definite about Emerson if he does leave it will be down to a technical decision." Calderon confirmed the club's interest in signing either Chelsea winger Arjen Robben or Olympique Lyon's French international Florent Malouda, but said that Germany defender Christoph Metzelder would be the first player to arrive at the Bernabeu. "We like Robben and Malouda, but both play in the same position and only one of them can come," he said. "Metzelder is certain to be the first player to sign. He is very tall and will give us extra quality at the back." Calderon added that the club wanted Bernd Schuster to take charge of the team in place of Fabio Capello who was sacked last week, but he insisted they would not negotiate with the German until he freed himself from his present contract with Getafe.
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