AC Milan Vice President Adriano Galliani confirmed Wednesday that he is negotiating to sign Brazil legend Ronaldo from Real Madrid.
"It's a possibility, I can't deny it," said Galliani when asked about the arrival of the striker, who has fallen out of favour with Real boss Fabio Capello.
"Now we'll have to see what Madrid say".
According to Italian newspapers, Galliani agreed personal terms for the move in a meeting with Ronaldo's agent Fabiano Farah on Tuesday.
He reportedly said the club is offering the player less than the salary of six million euros a season reported in Italian dailies on Wednesday.
But he confirmed that Milan wants to acquire the player outright - rather than taking him on loan - on a free transfer.
Ronaldo's new contract would run until the summer of 2008, just like his existing deal with the Spanish giants.
AC would effectively take the star, who Capello does not intend to use any more, and his hefty wage bill off Real's hands.
Now Galliani faces the tough task of persuading Real Madrid to let Ronaldo go for free.
Real Chairman Raul Calderon, who recently rejected a 10-million-euro offer from Saudi club Al-Ittihad for the three-time FIFA World Player of the Year, ruled out a free transfer Wednesday.
But there is reason to believe a compromise can be found.
Milan will have Ronaldo pressing the Spanish club's management to let him go.
The 30-year old wants to keep playing for a big club in a top championship, unlike his team-mate David Beckham and former Real colleague Luis Figo, who have been lured to less prestigious leagues by massive offers from American and Saudi clubs respectively.
And Real will not find it easy to offload a player with such a high salary anywhere else.
Although past his prime, Ronaldo would strengthen a Milan attack weakened by the departure of Andriy Shevchenko last summer.
Furthermore, extra manpower is needed because back-up striker Marco Borriello is facing a long ban after testing positive for doping before Christmas.
Ronaldo plied his trade in Serie A with Milan's cross-town rivals Inter for five seasons between 1997 and 2002.
On Wednesday Milan announced that they have bought goalkeeper Marco Storari from Messina.
Storari will act as understudy to Brazil's Nelson Dida, following the injury of Australia's Zeljko Kalac.
Galliani said he is still a long way from reaching an agreement with Lazio for Milan's main target of the January transfer window, Italy right-back Massimo Oddo.
