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ROME - AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani said today Ronaldo was a player they had dreamed of having for a long time as the Serie A soccer club tried to persuade Real Madrid to release the unsettled striker.
The clubs are in negotiations about a possible transfer and Milan are hoping they can lure the 30-year-old Brazil international back to Italy.
"Ronaldo is a player we've dreamed about for a long time and we'd love to have him here," Galliani said of the Brazilian who spent five years with Milan's rivals Inter between 1997 and 2002.
"The whole of the Milan family, from president (Silvio Berlusconi) to the caretaker at the training ground, have given the thumbs-up to the possible arrival of Ronaldo."
Galliani confirmed Milan had made an offer for Ronaldo, but are said to be unwilling to pay a transfer fee for a player whose contract ends in 18 months.
"It all depends on Real, he's their player," he said.
The Gazzetta dello Sport reported today Milan had offered Ronaldo, who cost Real 30 ($57) million euros when they bought him from Inter in 2002, a staggering euro6 million a season.
Ronaldo, who scored both of Brazil's goals in the 2002 World Cup final win against Germany and is the highest scorer in the competition's history, has rarely featured for Real under Fabio Capello.
But at a press conference today, the Real coach showed some reluctance to let Ronaldo leave.
"He's a Real player. I see him with the Real Madrid jersey," Capello said.
Wealthy Saudi Arabian club Al Ittihad, who have just snapped up Portuguese winger Luis Figo, are also reported to be keen on signing Ronaldo.
- AFP
