Real Madrid Are In Negotiations With Cristiano Ronaldo - Jorge Valdano

Real Madrid general director Jorge Valdano has revealed that the Spanish side are in negotiations with Manchester United midfielder Cristiano Ronaldo.

The player has been linked with a move to Madrid for sometime now and, with Florentino Perez back at the helm, it looks as though he could move this summer.

In an interview with TVE, Valdano was asked about Ronaldo and described him as a great professional and player.

"I can only talk about players who are on their way here, not about those we are in negotiations over. He is a great professional, he dedicates a very great deal of time to his work. He is a great footballer and a very good professional," he said.

"According to the information we have managed to obtain, he is an excellent professional. You don't get the player's body he has, which is a footballing advertisement, without working a great deal.

"Another thing is that his reputation as an officially good-looking guy, and a social or advertising model, blurs his image a bit. He is a great footballer."

With regards to another potential signing, David Villa, Valdano explained that Madrid are interested, but that Valencia are pricing him out of the market.

"He is an excellent striker but he has a prohibitive price. He is a player who interests us, but only at a reasonable price. The summer is very long and all the bargaining will be very interesting," he mused.

The general director went onto state that they need a "right winger or left to reinforce" the side, and are looking at a whole project, not just big names.

"Two or three signings will not do, we must pay attention to the whole team. We need 22 players who can give us their best, not just eleven starters," he explained.

Valdano also spoke about bringing back Alvaro Negredo to Madrid, saying that he would like him to return, but that it is "difficult", as "two or three" players would need to leave.

"There are important offers for Negredo, he would not be able to play as third or fourth choice, because that would stop his evolution and that is a bad idea," he concluded.

Questioned whether Gonzalo Higuain could be one of those to go, Valdano assured that he is an "important part" of the project, and that even though he is "still growing" he has progressed a "a lot in a short time".

James Walker-Roberts, Goal.com