Real Madrid veteran Michel Salgado on Sunday hinted Wesley Sneijder's injury could prompt the Spanish champions to increase their pursuit of Cristiano Ronaldo.
Madrid have been relentless in their bid to lure the Manchester United star to the Bernabeu this summer, despite the European Champions' insistence that he is not for sale.
Sneijder suffered a knee injury in Sunday's Emirates Cup defeat to Arsenal which could sideline him for up to six months.
The Holland international left the field on a stretcher after an hour following a heavy challenge by Arsenal midfielder Abou Diaby as Madrid went down 1-0 - a result which handed the trophy to Hamburg, who beat Juventus 3-0 earlier in the day.
Salgado insists he does not know anything about the progress of the transfer but believes the club could now up their pressure on United.
"We (the players) don't know anything about it," he said. "It's a problem for the club - for (sporting director) Pedja Mijatovic and the coach.
"We are players, we only think about football.
"But now Wesley Sneijder is injured and he's an important player for us.
"Maybe tomorrow there will be a meeting with the people in the club and maybe then there's going to be news about this."
Salgado also claims the players and the fans would welcome Ronaldo to the Bernabeu with open arms.
"We know Cristiano Ronaldo is an incredible player and we don't have any problem with him joining us," he added.
"Real Madrid making an offer is normal. Manchester United and (coach Sir Alex) Ferguson don't want this because he is a very important player at United and that is normal too.
"I think they're going to have to talk about this and if Cristiano Ronaldo is coming to Real Madrid the dressing room is waiting for him.
"If he came of course the players and the fans would be excited. The supporters are used to watching the best players in the world at the Bernabeu and Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the best players in the world."
While Salgado admits the Portugal international would be a great addition to the team, he also claims the Primera Liga champions don't necessarily need him.
"We have a very important group now," he added. "I feel the best of Real Madrid is the squad and the dressing room and if Cristiano is coming here we don't have room for him in the team.
"But, as I said before maybe with the injury to Wesley Sneijder maybe we need someone else."
Salgado is well qualified to judge the needs of Madrid having been at the Bernabeu since 1999.
The Spain veteran claims he can't see himself leaving the Spanish giants anytime soon, but revealed he would love a move to England if he does.
"I've been 10 years in Real Madrid," said Salgado. "It would be very difficult to move.
"But if I move from Real Madrid I'd love to go to the Premier League or Dubai."
More news from SportingLife.com
Comment 1 - 3 of 3
What on earth is a gay love triangle? You are defo a pervert!
typical real madrid comment is he good mates with ronaldo does he hang about with him who is michel salgado anyway what a @#$% i like the spanish but now they try to steal the premierships talent everybody likes watching him play no matter what team you support as he makes football look easy so why wouldn't another club try and sign him? because there sick of hearing about it utd would sell ronaldo half price to somebody who came in with a bid properly for the winker before they sell him to real madrid as they obviously like tapping up players and sepp blatter and calderon are gay lovers trying to get ronaldo in the gay love triangle! grow up madrid and listen to the real players of real madrid like cannavaro who thinks players should honour there contracts they should of got to sporting lisbon 1st and made them there feeder team unlucky calderon for someone who thinks he knows ball should be more on the ball than that if i was fergie i would kick a boot at him in the changing room before he leaves just for good luck and then the next time it would be 3rd time lucky!
Might as well sell Ronaldo... As much as i hate to say it he wants to play in spain... u can get alot of young talant with money from ronaldo... if he just leaves we are left with nothing
Please login to post a comment
Not already a Yahoo! user ? Sign up to get a free Yahoo! Account