McManaman-to-Inter option included in Ronaldo deal

Real Madrid midfielder Steve McManaman could move to Inter Milan as part of the complex deal which took Brazilian World Cup winner Ronaldo from Italy to the European champions.

The 45 million euro deal, concluded on Saturday, involves Real giving the Italian club a 10 million euro transfer 'spending voucher' for one of its players, Inter Milan president Massimo Moratti said.

With the transfer deadline having passed the player would not be able to move until the winter 'transfer window' opens for a month at the end of December.

Moratti told the daily Gazzetta dello Sport that his club can either claim the 10 million euro in cash or take England's McManaman or Argentine Santiago Solari from Real.

Inter have used some of the cash raised by the sale of Ronaldo to sign Argentine striker Hernan Crespo from Lazio and have also signed Italy defender Favio Cannavaro from Parma.

"With the Ronaldo deal we have bought Crespo and we also brought in Cannavaro," said Moratti.

"In December we will be able to either cash in another 10 million euro, the solution that I personally prefer, or we can sign one of Solari and McManaman," added the Inter chief.

Inter coach Hector Cuper has identified a left-sided midfielder as the only spot he feels needs reinforcing but Solari's reluctance to leave Real for Inter was one of the main factors in delaying Ronaldo's move to Spain.

McManaman, who signed for Real in 1999 as a free agent after nine years with Liverpool, has been the subject of frequent speculation that the Spanish club want to offload him due to his high salary.

Despite competing with the likes of Luis Figo and Zinedine Zidane for a berth in the Real midfield, 30-year-old McManaman last season still managed to make 22 league and 13 Champions League appearances for Real.

Moratti said that the situation allowed Inter's current left midfield options, which include Argentine Andreas Guglielminpietro and young Italian Domenico Morfeo, to prove themselves and make a new signing unnecessary.

"I hope that there won't be a need for it. The current players have until December to show that we are fine as we are," said the Inter president.