Berlusconi eyes Ronaldo swoop

Published Apr. 6, 2011 4:28 p.m. ET

foxsports

AC Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi dreams of signing Cristiano Ronaldo from Real Madrid and has told Adriano Galliani to begin negotiations.

Former Manchester United man Ronaldo, who arrived at Real from Old Trafford in 2009, is contracted at the Bernabeu until summer 2015.

But Berlusconi has revealed his interest in the 26-year-old Portugal international, who was on target for the Spanish giants during their 4-0 Champions League thrashing of Tottenham on Tuesday evening.

He said: "My dream is to have Cristiano Ronaldo in the team. I gave free rein to (AC Milan's CEO Adriano) Galliani (to start the negotiations)."

Real coach Jose Mourinho says he would leave the Spanish club if Ronaldo were sold to AC Milan, though has made it clear he would not follow the forward to the San Siro.

He said to Mediaset Premium: "Berlusconi wants Ronaldo? That's an impossible mission. Although football is an industry and you never know.

"If Cristiano goes away, I'll go away too. But not to AC Milan, not AC Milan."