Real Madrid want to sign Franck Ribéry from Bayern Munich during the close season, according to the club's president Florentino Pérez. "It would be a huge satisfaction to have Ribéry with us as soon as next season," Perez told the French daily L'Equipe today. "But we first have to talk to his club Bayern Munich. I will get in touch with my friends Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and Uli Hoeness to ask them what they want to do with Ribéry. I'll tell them this player is one of our targets and that I want to discuss his possible move to Real."
Pérez added he was "very optimistic" about signing the Brazilian Kaka from Milan after he held talks with the Serie A side and the player's father this week. "If Kaka leaves Milan, he will join Real Madrid," Pérez said.
The Real chairman also said he tried to convince Arsenal manager, Arsène Wenger, to join the nine-time European champions before naming Manuel Pellegrini as Real's new coach. "We have always liked the Frenchman and we talked a lot with him," Pérez said. "But he feels very responsible of what is going on and of what is going to happen next at Arsenal. He did not want to leave this club which he has given a lot to."
Real Madrid confirmed last night that Florentino Pérez has returned as club president. Pérez, who held the post for six highly eventful years from 2000 to 2006, will officially be sworn in today.
Pérez's previous spell in charge of Real was characterised by the famous 'galácticos' policy which saw Madrid bring in the likes of Luis Figo, Zinedine Zidane, David Beckham and Ronaldo for massive fees.
Although Perez has kept his cards close to his chest regarding new players and who will coach the team next season, there has been speculation in the Spanish media over the past few months regarding who will be brought in if the election favourite returned to power.
"We are working towards and we will work to create a spectacular project, and that is to make Real Madrid the best club in the world once more," said Perez during a press conference a fortnight ago. "A club like Real Madrid needs to have several of the best players in the world and even though I can't discuss names today, we have a spectacular project on the sporting side."
Two of Madrid's long-term targets Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo are again reportedly near the top of Pérez's wanted list, along with Frenchman Franck Ribéry.
Spanish players are also believed to be on Pérez's agenda, even though during his previous spell only one of his 17 signings was a home-grown player - Sergio Ramos, who joined from Sevilla.
If the reports turn out to be true though, then the likes of Valencia quartet Villa, David Silva, Raul Albiol and Juan Mata, as well as Almeria striker Alvaro Negredo and Liverpool's Xabi Alonso could be among the Spanish signings gracing Real next season.
