Real Madrid to open academies in China, Mexico

European champions Real Madrid are looking to open football academies in China and Mexico, the club's sporting director Jorge Valdano said Tuesday.

"We hope to open the first international football schools in Mexico and China in the next six months," Valdano told reporters.

Valdano added the club still intended to sell Argentino Santiago Hernan Solari to Inter Milan, whom the Spaniards must sell on a player as part of the price of luring Brazilian star Ronaldo from the Milanese last summer.

"All that is needed now is an agreement between the player and Inter," said Valdano, who added Real might offload striker Fernando Morientes by season's end given the emergence of young starlet Javier Portillo.

Morientes has been linked to Italian side AS Roma as their manager Fabio Capello is an admirer of his, having signed him when he was in charge of Real Madrid.