English FA Premiership: A dire last few months for Ruud van Nistelrooy, which saw the Dutch striker sidelined at Manchester United after falling out with Alex Ferguson and dropped by the Netherlands during a disappointing World Cup, look likely to end with his transfer to one of the biggest clubs in Europe.
Last night Real Madrid and Bayern Munich were jostling for position as the queue started to form for his signature.
The German champions, whose attack currently includes another Dutchman, Roy Makaay, as well as the Germany striker Lukas Podolski, claim to be the player's choice. "He wants to come to us. We know that," said their chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.
"Now we will approach the thing with all calm. We have to speak with the player and naturally with Manchester United. But there are no grounds for haste."
Real Madrid's interest might force them to speed up negotiations, with the Spanish club's new manager, Fabio Capello, including the 30-year-old among a list of players he would like to bring to the Bernabeu. "It seems as though Fabio likes van Nistelrooy," said their newly elected president Ramon Calderon. "He could complement Ronaldo."
Relegated to the bench at Old Trafford for the final run-in last season, van Nistelrooy nevertheless scored 21 Premiership goals, five more than the club's next highest scorer Wayne Rooney, and second only to Arsenal's Thierry Henry. He walked out of the club when he was left out of the team for United's final Premiership game against Charlton, and scored only one goal at the World Cup.
Calderon also confirmed the club's interest in Milan's Brazil international Kaka and Arsenal's Spanish midfielder Cesc Fabregas. "Of course I would like for Cesc to be one of our signings," he said. "We had an agreement with the player during the presidential elections but we have yet to sit down with Arsenal and negotiate."
The Brazil full-back Roberto Carlos, linked with a move to Chelsea, is likely to be leaving Madrid after 10 years at the club. "Roberto Carlos has the idea of leaving and he has already informed the sporting director," Calderon said.
Real must also cope with the retirement of Zinedine Zidane, but may profit from the Italian corruption scandal and the expected relegation of Capello's former club Juventus by signing several of their leading players.
"I wouldn't like for Juventus to be relegated," said Calderon. "We don't need for something bad to happen in order to make signings. The signings that Capello has asked for are possible."
