AS say Ruud has "SIGNED" while Fergie says No. Meanwhile Bayern have apparently bid £11.5m and Ruud is in training at Manchester

AS reports: (translated from Spanish so forgive poor grammar)

Real Madrid closed the transfer of Ruud van Nistelrooy last night. The white club will pay 15 million euros to the Manchester for the Dutchman, who will be presented/displayed tomorrow in the Bernabéu. Calderón had said yesterday in the evening that the front center was on the verge of arriving and fulfilled its promise, since his sport chief of a main directorate at night reached an agreement with the Manchester to twelve. Pedja Mijatovic negotiated afternoon with the English during everything and it was crossing faxes to close the last flecos of the operation.

The forward will arrive today at Madrid in the evening in a private flight and he will lodge in the Mirasierra Suites, just as Cannavaro and Emerson. Friday the player will pass medical examination in the clinic, where it will be put under exhaustive analytical examinations, of biochemistry and cardiorrespiratorios. Soon the presentation by all the stop in the Bernabéu will arrive. Calderón also will give the welcome him in Dutch and I gave Stefano will give the t-shirt to him, that not yet is known what number will take.

In the evening, Van Nistelrooy will go away to Irdning to get up itself to the preseason with the rest of the group, since Capello wants to work as soon as possible with him. It will be there where it is eeted again with Beckham, with which it agreed two years in the Manchester.

Although the English club requested 17 million euros, in the end has yielded before Madrid and will receive 15 million, that the club that presides over Calderón will pay in three terms. The player, who is 30 years old, will sign a contract of three seasons at the rate of five million annual net euros.

Van Nistelrooy hoped patiently yesterday in Manchester to that the negotiations concluded. It was informed into all the movements to the minute. He is the third draftee who makes specific Pedja Mijatovic for the next season. Its objective era to contract four in two weeks and only has failed him Zambrotta. Now already it is possible to be centered in closing the hiring of Kaká.

Ruud Van Nistelrooy was back at Manchester United's Carrington training ground on Thursday morning as his dream move to Real Madrid continued to stall.

The Spanish giants made a renewed bid for the 30-year-old striker on Wednesday, sparking frenzied rumours that a deal had been agreed with United. However, Red Devils' boss, Alex Ferguson, speaking after the friendly win at Celtic, immediately rejected the notion United would be interested in doing a deal at the price Madrid are believed to have offered, approximately £10million.

Ferguson told MUTV: "They've slightly increased it but nothing really you would say - for goodness sake, an increase of about two bob or something. We know our value. If we are going to sell Ruud van Nistelrooy we should get the proper value."

He added: "He is one of the best strikers in the country, one of the best strikers in Europe so when you think about (Andriy) Shevchenko going for £35million - he's a similar age group. But we know our value of the player so at the moment he is a Manchester United player."

United's blunt refusal to do business with either Madrid or Bayern Munich for anything less than the £15m asking price appears to leave Van Nistelrooy in limbo.

Madrid's move comes in the wake of Bayern Munich's attempt to force United's hand by tabling an offer of £11.5 million for the player earlier this week and while neither bid will persuade United to part with the 30-year-old, the emergence of an auction, however slow-paced, will at least encourage club and player that an end could be in sight. 

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Last update : 27-07-2006 11:36

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