Sanz says he's settled with trio of Euro stars
(China Daily)
Updated: 2004-07-08 06:36

Real Madrid presidential candidate Lorenzo Sanz said on Tuesday he had reached agreements to sign Czech Republic internationals Milan Baros and Tomas Rosicky as well as Portugal midfielder Maniche.

"We were at the final of Euro 2004 and made important agreements with three players while we were there," Sanz told a news conference at his election headquarters.

"If we win the election, Maniche and Baros will be at the disposal of Real Madrid coach Jose Antonio Camacho from next Monday. Rosicky will be available to sign for the club in a year's time."

When pressed on the exact terms of the agreements Sanz said that with regard to Porto midfielder Maniche he had approved the deal with both the player and his club.

However he said he had not yet spoken to the clubs of Liverpool forward Baros and Borussia Dortmund playmaker Rosicky.

Baros was one of the outstanding players at Euro 2004, scoring five goals as he helped the Czech Republic into the semi-finals of the tournament.

Maniche also had an excellent tournament, scoring a spectacular long distance curler in his side's 2-1 win over the Netherlands in the semi-finals.

Agreements such as those announced by Sanz have become regular features of presidential elections at Spanish clubs.

His defeat in the 2000 election was in large part due to Florentino Perez's promise to pay the US$56 million needed to buy Portugal midfielder Luis Figo out of his contract from arch-rivals Barcelona.

Last year Joan Laporta won the Barcelona presidential election partly on the basis of a promise to sign England captain David Beckham after reaching an agreement with his then club Manchester United.

Laporta failed to live up to his pledge, though, as Beckham refused to agree to the move and instead joined Real Madrid.

Sanz is standing against Perez and businessman Arturo Baldasano in the election.

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