Real and Milan yet to agree over Ronaldo move

MADRID, Aug 24 (Reuters) Ronaldo's future at Real Madrid remains in the balance after the Spaniards said they had not yet been able to reach an agreement with AC Milan over the sale of the Brazilian striker.

''There are still large differences between the two clubs in the negotiations,'' a spokesman for Real Madrid said today.

''There were talks last night and we expect contacts to continue, but at the moment the positions of the two clubs are very different.'' Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani and sporting director Ariedo Braida returned to Italy on Thursday after talks with Real's sporting director Predrag Mijatovic, but negotiations are likely to continue over the next few days.

Spanish media reported that Milan had offered 22 million euros (28.21 million dollars) for the three-times World Player of the Year who played for their city rivals Inter for five years before moving to Real for 45 million euros in 2002.

The nine-times European champions are reported to want close to 30 million euros for the striker and are hoping to get a preferential option to buy Milan's Brazilian midfielder Kaka included in the deal.

Real said that another possible complication was that Ronaldo's former club Inter Milan were also keen to sign the player.

Ronaldo, who will turn 30 next month, has notched up 100 goals since joining Real and has been top scorer in each of his four seasons at the club.

Real's signing of Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy from Manchester United and the arrival of Italian coach Fabio Capello may have paved the way for the move.

Milan received an injection of cash following the sale of Andriy Shevchenko to Chelsea for an estimated 45 million euros and qualified for the Champions League group phase on Tuesday.

Reuters DH RS1935