Real 'agree van Nistelrooy deal'

Real Madrid say they have agreed to sign Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy on a three-year contract.

Madrid announced the deal in a statement on their website on Thursday, but gave no details of a fee.

United were believed to be demanding at least £15m for the 30-year-old, who had handed in a written transfer request.

In a statement, United said they had given Van Nistelrooy permission to travel to Spain for a medical, but said an agreement had not been finalised.

Real have said they will present Van Nistelrooy - who scored 150 goals for United - on Friday evening at 1800 BST after a medical in the morning.

Reports earlier on Thursday said Real would pay about £10.2m (15m Euros) for the Dutchman.

In their statement, Madrid said: "Real Madrid announce they have an agreement with Manchester United for the transfer of the player Ruud van Nistelrooy.

"The player will be contracted with the club for the next three seasons.

"He will undergo a medical on Friday morning and will be presented in the evening at 7pm at the Palco de Honor at the Santiago Bernabeu."

United's statement, released later on Thursday, said: "We have given permission for Ruud van Nistelrooy to travel to Real Madrid for a medical.

"But the terms of agreement are yet to be finalised between the two clubs."

Sir Alex Ferguson has previously said: "He is one of the best strikers in the country, one of the best strikers in Europe, so when you think about Andriy Shevchenko going for £35m - he is a similar age group."

Ukraine captain Shevchenko, 29, joined United's Premiership rivals Chelsea in May.

Spanish radio station Cadena SER said on Thursday that a deal of just over £10m had been agreed between the two clubs and that the Dutchman would sign a three-year deal.

If the move goes through, Van Nistelrooy will link up with former United team-mate David Beckham at the Bernabeu.

United signed Van Nistelrooy, who returned to training with the Red Devils on Monday, for £19m from PSV Eindhoven in 2001.

If he signs, Van Nistelrooy will be Madrid's third acquisition since Ramon Calderon won the club's presidential election on 3 July.

Fabio Cannavaro and Emerson have already been signed from troubled Juventus, who look set to begin next season in Serie B after being relegated for their part in the Italians match-fixing scandal.

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