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Real and Bayern express van Nistelrooy interest

Ruud van Nistelrooy looks likely to leave United either way
Ruud van Nistelrooy looks likely to leave United either way

New Real Madrid coach Fabio Capello could be mulling over a move for Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy.

Capello led Juventus to the last two Scudettos but ended his two-year reign last week with the Turin giants facing possible relegation due to match-fixing.

The Italian coach is evaluating his squad and Real president Ramon Calderon said on the club's official website: 'It seems as though Fabio likes Van Nistelrooy. He could complement Ronaldo in playing together.'

One hole to fill is being left by French midfielder Zinedine Zidane, who is now retired.

'There is enough (money) for us to make six or seven reinforcements and they will be here before August 3,' Calderon said.

Some of Juventus' high-profile players may be available should the Bianconeri, as expected, be demoted as punishment for wrong-doing in Serie A.

'I wouldn't like for Juventus to be relegated,' Calderon said. 'We don't need for something bad to happen in order to make signings. The signings that Capello has asked for are possible. Of course I would like for Cesc (Fabregas) to be one of our signings. We had an agreement with the player during the presidential elections, but we have yet to sit down with Arsenal and negotiate.

'With regards to Kaka, Capello has told me he is an exceptional player. He (Kaka) wanted to come three months ago when I was a club executive, but now we must talk to AC Milan.'

One player who could be on his way out of the Bernabeu is long-serving fullback Roberto Carlos.

'Roberto Carlos has the idea of leaving and he has already informed the sporting director (Predrag Mijatovic),' Calderon added. If Roberto leaves, Fabio Capello has asked me for a replacement.'

Meanwhile Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge is confident of signing Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy this summer.

The Bavarian club have made no secret of their interest in the unsettled Holland international and Rummenigge has revealed that the player is also keen on a transfer.

'The player wants to come to us, we know that,' he told the Bild am Sonntag.

'We will now deal with it in private as he is still on holiday.

'We need to speak with the player and, obviously, also with Manchester United, but there is no need to rush.'

Rummenigge also plans to hold talks with coach Felix Magath in the near future to discuss a one-year contract extension.

Despite the coach leading Bayern to two successive league and cup doubles, Rummenigge claimed Magath does not believe in long-term contracts.

'We are delighted with him and hope we can work together for a long time to come, but Felix has also said he doesn't believe in so-called `pension contracts',' said Rummenigge.

'In football, things can change very quickly.

'Ottmar Hitzfeld was here for six years and was contracted for a seventh, but things started going wrong in the sixth year and that has got to play on the mind.'

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