Soccer:Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has promised to do "everything possible" to sign Cristiano Ronaldo after completing the €68million capture of Kaka from AC Milan - a deal his Barcelona counterpart Joan Laporta says 'distorts' the transfer market.
Perez has wasted little time engaging on a spending splurge since returning for a second spell as Bernabeu supremo and clearly intends to revive his 'galactico' policy of signing world stars,
During his precious tenure he lured Luis Figo, Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo and David Beckham to the Spanish capital. Now, after bagging Kaka, world player of the year Ronaldo is top of his list, though he appears to treading carefully where Alex Ferguson is concerned.
"I will do everything possible to get Cristiano Ronaldo at Real Madrid," he told Onda Ceroand Radio Marca. "Kaka is (just) the first signing."
Asked about reports Manchester United have allowed Ronaldo to sign a pre-contract with Madrid, Perez said: "I have read about this but I have been at this club a week and not seen anything about this."
He added: "What I want the most is to keep good relationships with other clubs.
"The only thing I have done is ensure we follow the path Santiago Bernabeu marked out for us; (signing) the best players in the world (Alfredo Di Stefano), the best in Spain (Amancio) and, with them, the best from the youth set-up (Raul)."
Perez appeared to pour cold water on talk Liverpool's Spain midfielder Xabi Alonso could be heading to the Bernabeu.
"He is a great player but he also plays in a big team and I haven't heard any news that they plan to sell him," said the Madrid president. "It's obvious (Liverpool manager Rafael) Benitez is counting on keeping him. That's normal, he's a good player and it wouldn't be easy to replace him."
Nevertheless, it is expected to be a summer of change at Madrid with nine players seemingly on their way out of the club.
"(The squad) has 28 players. We can bring in six new and only register 25," he said.
Kaka is the first of the second generation of 'galacticos' and, while speculation continues over Ronaldo, the likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and David Villa have also been linked with moves to the Spanish capital.
Perez told Sky Italia: "We are always thinking about great players.
"Cristiano Ronaldo and Zlatan Ibrahimovic are among other great players around the world.
"We all know that these are players that we would like to buy but they can't all come."
Perez's comments are likely to infuriate United, who voiced their displeasure last summer at Madrid's public pursuit of the Portugal international.
And Perez insisted any move for Ronaldo this time would be done via the right channels.
He added: "Ronaldo is a great player who we would like to bring to the club, but first we have to speak to Manchester United because the important thing is for us to maintain a good rapport with everyone."
Spanish daily Marcaclaim Perez has an agreement in place with Villa's club Valencia, whose financial position means they are unlikely to reject an offer which comes close to their valuation.
Money certainly does not seem to be a problem at Madrid, as proved by the signing of Kaka.
And the former Sao Paulo star is excited at Madrid's transfer plans.
"Real Madrid intend to build a great team, along with historic players such as Raul and Casillas," he said. "We will make history again, both in Spain and Europe. I guess the sporting project is very good.
"The president is already making contact (with potential signings) and is putting together a competitive team, one which will try to once again become champions. That's why I chose Madrid."
Laporta, meanwhile, has described the deal as "exorbitant".
He added: "It doesn't fit in with the reality of the market and it's too risky. It's distorting it."
Laporta insists Madrid's massive spending power does not worry him following a spectacular season for Barca which saw them lift the treble of the Primera Division, Copa del Rey and Champions League.
Barca have been linked to big-money deals of their own but their president claims he will not be following their bitter rivals' example.
He added: "We only have to make touch-ups."
KAKA FACTFILE
1982: Born Ricardo Izecson dos Santos Leite on April 22 in Brasilia, Brazil.
1997: Signs contract with Sao Paulo aged 15.
2000: Suffers a career-threatening spine fracture at the age of 18 as a result of a swimming-pool accident, but makes a full recovery.
2001: March - Makes his professional debut for Sao Paulo and goes on to score scored 12 goals in 27 appearances in his debut season to help the club claim the Torneio Rio-Sao Paulo title.
July- Member of the Brazilian team that reached the FIFA World Youth Championship quarter-finals in Argentina.
2002: January - Handed his international debut by Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari against Bolivia.
June- Part of the 2002 World Cup-winning squad, but plays only 19 minutes in a first-round match against Costa Rica.
December- Wins Campeonato Paulista and finishes his second season with Sao Paulo with 10 goals in 22 matches. Picks up the prestigious Bola de Ouro award.
2003: June - Makes switch to AC Milan for 8.5 million euros, a fee later described by club owner Silvio Berlusconi as "peanuts".
July- Appointed Brazil captain for the Gold Cup tournament, where Brazil finished as runners-up with Kaka scoring three goals in the competition.
September- Makes his Serie A debut in a 2-0 win over Ancona.
2004: - Wins Scudetto in debut season in Serie A, scoring 10 goals in 30 appearances and is named Serie A Foreign Footballer of the Year.
2005: May - Scores in Champions League final penalty shoot-out defeat to Liverpool in Istanbul. Named UEFA midfielder of the season.
June- Scores in 4-1 win over Argentina in the 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup final.
August- Wins Italian Super Cup.
2006: May - Named Serie A Foreign Footballer of the Year for second time.
June- Scores his only goal of the 2006 World Cup in Brazil's opening match against Croatia. Part of the side which crashed out at the quarter-final stage to France.
November- Included in the FIFPro Team of the Year.
2007: January - Named in the 2006 UEFA Team of the Year.
February- Awarded Italian citizenship.
May- Wins the Champions League with AC Milan after a 2-1 victory over Liverpool in Athens. Finishes as competition's top scorer.
August- Collects the UEFA Club Footballer of the Year and UEFA Club Forward of the Year prizes. Part of UEFA Super Cup-winning side.
October- Awarded the FIFPro World Player of the Year title.
December 2- Named European Footballer of the Year (Ballon d'Or).
December 16- Wins FIFA Club World Cup, scoring in 4-2 win over Boca Juniors in final. Scoops Player of the Tournament award.
December 17- Named FIFA World Player of the Year.
2008: February 29 - Signs a contract extension with Milan until 2013. Tells Milan TV he wants to stay at the club for the rest of his career.
May 25- Undergoes knee surgery which rules him out of the Olympics and the start of the Serie A season.
October 16- Inducted into Brazil's Hall of Fame at the Maracana.
October 27- Included in the FIFPro Team of the Year for the third year running.
2009: January 14- Turns down big-money move to Manchester City, saying: "It's not the money that will see me leave. I want to grow old at Milan."
May 31- Scores opener as Milan win 2-0 at Fiorentina in final round of Serie A matches to clinch third spot - the last automatic Champions League berth - in Carlo Ancelotti's final game at the Rossoneri helm.
June 8- AC Milan and Real Madrid confirm Kaka has moved to the Bernabeu on a six-year deal.