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Capello: The Problems With Madrid's Signing Policy
Fabio Capello's tell-all interview on life at Madrid threw up some more surprises today as Marca published part two of its findings. The former Real Madrid coach looked back on his tenure as boss, most notably to the way that Ramon Calderon's hierarchy managed its transfer dealings...
Fabio Capello's interview in Marca continued today with the Italian boss revealing yet more startling insight into the inner workings of Real Madrid.
The Italian coach, sacked earlier this summer, expressed with disbelief the difference in resources allocated to him, compared to new coach Bernd Schuster.
"The strange thing is that they only gave me 30 million euros to make signings," he said, compared to the Madrid total this year that's already topping the 100 million mark.
What's more, he said that, in the transfer market, timing is everything - and they almost got it wrong last year.
"We made a miracle in building the squad that we did.You can't form a winning team in July. That's what seems to be happening to them now," he claimed.
And with this, he reflected on a wider theme: the lack of planning in the transfer market.
"It's necessary to make signings in May," said Capello. "We had everything prepared to sign players, but they are not signed, never signed.
"We had a 6 million (euro) bid for Chivu in April, with 3.5 for the player. [Franco] Baldini [sporting director] had it all sorted, but it wasn't possible to close the deal because they told us, 'We don't love players who come from the Italian league."
Seemingly, Italy wasn't the only problem. Brazil, was, too. Pato, Brazilian wunderkind who just signed for AC Milan, was apparently also a target.
Capello said, "Beldini went to Brazil and saw Pato. He called [Pedrag] Mijatovic [sporting director] and said, 'I've seen a lad here, and he's an extraordinary player.
"With a bit of luck - and considering he shared a representative with Emerson - we could have got him for 2 million euros... but Madrid said, 'No, too young.' And now he's worth 20 million..."
Capello also revealed that he pleaded with Mijatovic not to sell Roberto Carlos, but this request fell on deaf ears. Equally futile, he claims, is anything relating to Kaka.
The Italian coach blasted, "For me, we never even had the possibility of signing him. I have always said that to Pedja and the president.
"To [president Ramon] Calderon I said, you are failing here. [Milan president] Berlusconi doesn't lack money and has a 'pretty face' at Milan - who is it? It was Maldini before, but now it is Kaka.
"The boy in all the photos is Kaka. And Berlusconi, who lives an aesthetic life, and loves the aesthetic players, will never let such a man go."
Capello closed by wishing new coach Bernd Schuster the best of luck and pledging his support to the side for the new season, but ruled out a third strike at the Bernabeu job.
He said, "I've returned once and made extraordinary work...but I won't return to Real Madrid to coach. Count on it."
Goal.com
), I'd be happy with the result and this pathetic lost vs. Sevilla at home.
Apparently it's some tv rights problem.