Schuster seeks Van der Vaart

Real coach considers different options to Ronaldo

By Lucas Brown   Last updated: 29th July 2008

Bernd Schuster Real Madrid v Sevilla

Schuster: Van der Vaart link

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Bernd Schuster has told Real Madrid that he would be just as happy with signing Rafael van der Vaart as he would with Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Real coach is beginning to fret about missing out on other transfer targets because of an obsession with prising Ronaldo away from Manchester United.

After seeing his side edge to an opening pre-season win in Austria, Schuster has asked president Ramon Calderon and sporting director Predrag Mijatovic to consider other options.

"Ronaldo is the best in the world at the moment, but if we cannot sign him then I would be just as happy with Van der Vaart," Schuster told AS.

Hamburg offer

Madrid have been linked with Van der Vaart and David Villa as the Ronaldo move appears increasingly unlikely, but there has yet to be any offers.

Hamburg claim Real have made an offer for Van der Vaart, but insist that it came nowhere near their asking price.

"It was a ridiculous offer and that is why we rejected it," said the Bundeslinga outfit's sporting director Didi Beiersdorfer.

"We promised to consider letting Van der Vaart go this summer if an offer from a big club arrived."