Transfer rumours

When the Spanish press take a breather from the World Cup, the other big talking point is the presidential elections at Real Madrid. With only a few days to go now, five candidates are currently putting the boot in to each other, and each is coming up with a list of names which make the head spin, with several players and coaches appearing in more than one candidates "so called" signings.

If we have got it right (and our apologies to the candidates if not), Juan Miguel Villar Mir (with rally driver Carlos Sainz as co-pilot) says he has agreed terms with Arsene Wenger to be his manager, and promises a string of superstars including Cesc, and Ramón Calderón has produced a list of no less than eleven new players, including a forward line up of Kaká, Robben and Van Nistelrooy.

Juan Palacios has Camacho and Mijatovic on board, and says he has tied up Ibrahimovic and Zambrotta, but has Rooney, Terry and Cristian Ronaldo on his shopping list, and ex president Lorenzo Sanz wants to go back to the past and bring back Del Bosque, and also wants Fernando Torres and a host of others.

Arturo Baldesano reportedly has got Joaquín, Reyes and Diarra (and Eriksson and Del Bosque?), but is making more news for those he wants to get rid of, including Helguera, Woodgate, Roberto Carlos, Pablo García, Gravesen and Cassano.

A proper bun fight, but most of this is wishful thinking and the real news will begin once the winner is announced next Sunday. (25.06.06)