Ronaldo Has Permission To Speak With Al-Ittihad!

According to Sunday’s electronic edition of popular Saudi financial daily ‘Al-Eqtesadiya’, Al-Ittihad have been given the green light by Real Madrid to talk to the Brazilian striker.

“We are dealing directly with the player now that we have secured the go-ahead signal from Real Madrid,” the Saudi club's chief was quoted as saying.

“I do personally hope that our strong willingness and commitment to secure the services of Ronaldo will finally pay off and ease the way towards getting his official agreement soon,” he added, without mentioning the financial terms of the proposed offer.

Ronaldo also has been linked with a Beckham-esque move to MLS, specifically to the New York Red Bulls. Those rumors, however, appear to be only that at this point.

Various reports on Sunday have also linked Ricardinho (Besiktas Istanbul) with a possible swoop should the Ronaldo deal fail to materialize. Inter's Luis Figo already has agreed to join Al-Ittihad at the end of the European season.

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I think it will be a great mistake if Real Madrid sell Ronaldo. Because he is a great player and I think he still have ability to show something and bring glory to Real Madrid again if ge has got chance. So I think it will not be a good decission if Real Madrid allow him to leave. And I think Capello will understand it and keep him in the squad and will play him in the matches. Because all we know what Ronaldo can do when he is in form.

Former Madrid player Luis Figo signs 18-month contract with Saudi club.

Former World Player of the Year Luis Figo has signed an 18-month contract with Al Ittihad for an undisclosed sum, the Saudi club said on Sunday.

"I can confirm that Luis Figo of Inter Milan has signed an official contract with Ittihad starting on July 1, 2007," Ittihad director-general Rafat Turki told Reuters.

"I have no right to release the value but we concluded a deal acceptable to both sides that is the highest, not just in the Middle East, but in Asia for a player that is worth the value."

Italian and Saudi newspapers had been reporting for weeks that the 34-year-old Portuguese midfielder, whose contract with Inter Milan expires at the end of the season, was on the brink of moving to the Jeddah-based club.

Inter Milan dismissed the report several days ago saying in a statement on its website that there was no negotiation under way.

Inter coach Roberto Mancini, who was in Bahrain with his team for a training camp and a friendly against Bahrain's national team, told the Gulf Daily News that Figo would stay at least until his contract expired at the end of the year.

But Turki said Ittihad had clinched the deal in Bahrain on Thursday night.

The club had earlier delayed announcing the deal until the contract was signed, raising media speculation that the talks had fallen through.

Ittihad issued a statement on the same day saying the talks were delayed because Figo had demanded he be paid 70 percent of the agreed sum in his first six months at Ittihad, during which time he would be allowed to end the contract for any reason.

"The negotiations took almost 2-1/2 months. To get a player of such skill and prestige takes time," Turki said.

"A couple of hours after the press conference we were able to conclude the deal."

Figo began his career at Sporting Lisbon and played for Portugal in the 2006 World Cup.

He played for Barcelona and Real Madrid before joining Inter at the start of the 2005-6 season.

Former Madrid player Figo joins Al Ittihad.

UNSETTLED Inter-Milan star Luis Figo has joined Saudi Arabian side Al Ittihad for US$8 million ($12m).

The former Barcelona and Real Madrid winger signed a six-month deal to play for the two-time Asian champions.

The 34-year-old will move to Saudi Arabia next week.

Al Ittihad won the Asian Champions League in 2004 and 2005, but were knocked out in the quarter-finals this year.