Former Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon believes the club are attempting to sign Gareth Bale to replace the unsettled Cristiano Ronaldo.Madrid have submitted a world record £85million bid for the Welsh winger, who has expressed his desire to leave, but Calderon claims that his successor Florentino Perez is leading the charge to cover his losses should Ronaldo go.
The Portuguese star has been long been linked with a return to former club Manchester United, and reportedly has wage demands that Real 'would find difficult to accept'.
Say your goodbyes? Ramon Calderon says that Florentino Perez (left) is buying Gareth Bale to cover his losses should Cristiano Ronaldo (right) leave
Let me leave: Bale told Andre Villas Boas of his desire to join Real Madrid at training
Florentino Perez has declared that Ronaldo will stay at the Bernabeu until he retires, though the forward denied he had signed a new contract at the club earlier this summer
And Calderon says that the impending arrival of Bale is to appease fans should the 27-year-old choose not to renew his stay.
'I know that he (Ronaldo) is not happy at all with the attitude and behaviour of the president. He is asking for €20million net every season which is going to be difficult for Real to accept,' he told talkSPORT's Drive Time show.
“I think the president has all his eggs on the table just in case he can’t get the renewal of Cristiano. That is my impression.
'He’s afraid at some moment that Cristiano will say, "I am not going to go on". That will be bad news for Madrid. I would like to see him retire at Real but now the situation is difficult. Let's see in the next weeks or months if it can be sorted out and he can stay.'
Madrid knowledge: Calderon resigned as president of Real in 2009
Will they be teammates? Ronaldo, then of Manchester United, takes on a rookie left-back in No 3 Bale
Bale told Spurs boss Andre Villas Boas that he wanted to join Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid at his first day back at training after the sensational bid.
And Real sporting director Zinedine Zidane has said Bale should be allowed to follow his dreams by moving to Spain, adding that he could become the best player in the world at the Bernabeu.
He said: ‘If he has expressed a desire to join Madrid then Tottenham should give him permission to speak with us. The chance to play for Real Madrid might only come around once in a player’s lifetime and it is understandable that Gareth doesn’t want to miss out.
Determined to get their man: Zinedine Zidane (centre), Carlo Ancelotti (left) and Perez (right) are desperate to sign Bale
‘Last season Gareth was on the same level as Ronaldo and Messi. Those are the sort of players who win you Champions Leagues and League titles.
‘Gareth is already one of the finest players in Europe and has everything needed to become the best player in the world. It is a bit of a cliche but it is true you become a better player playing with better players.’
