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Real confident of keeping Carlos

May 31, 2004 16:52 IST
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Real Madrid president Florentino Perez is convinced that Roberto Carlos will extend his contract with the club despite the player's complaint that he is being treated more like a product than a footballer.

"I am hopeful that we can find a formula that will allow him to finish his career at Real Madrid," Perez told Spanish state television on Sunday night.

"He has got a year left on his contract with Real Madrid and he is going to fulfil it."

The Brazilian international, who is reported to have been targeted by Chelsea, was critical of the club's negotiating technique in an interview with Brazilian daily O Globo published at the weekend.

"The club have said they will give me two more years and then see how I play before deciding to offer me any more," he said.

"But I am 31 years old and my record won't allow me to accept this sort of thing. I am not a product. When I go out to play I give everything.

"(David) Beckham sells a lot, but he also earns a lot, just like Ronaldo and Zinedine Zidane. But they shouldn't use players like products and think they can do what they like with us."

Roberto Carlos joined Real in 1996 from Inter Milan for approximately $7 million. He has won three league titles and three European Cups with the club.

CHELSEA OFFER

Spanish media have reported that the defender has been offered a four-year deal worth six million euros ($7.36 million) a season by Chelsea and the player himself confirmed that the English premier league club were interested in signing him.

"They (the Spanish media) are talking a lot about it (a Chelsea offer) and when news like this comes out into the open it is because there is something in it," he said.

Perez countered by saying that Real had not yet made the player an official offer and criticised the defender for trying to use the media to bargain with the club.

"I am not aware that anyone from Real Madrid has made Roberto Carlos an offer of an extra two years. One thing that will not be accepted is players using the media as a means of negotiating with the club...But I am convinced he will stay with us."

Perez also stressed that several of Real's leading players, including recent signing Walter Samuel, had accepted lower salaries to play for the club.

"Players want to come to Real Madrid and for them the financial side of things isn't the most important thing.

"Samuel proved this. He could have earned more at Chelsea, but he preferred to come here. The same thing happened with Ronaldo and Zidane, both of them lost money by coming to Real."

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Source: REUTERS
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