Real president promises "exciting" new signing

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has pledged to sign another of the world's leading players less than a week after the club were condemned to finishing without a major trophy for the first time in five seasons.

"There will be an exciting new signing," Perez was quoted as saying in sports daily Marca on Thursday.

Real, who bought England captain David Beckham at the start of the season, saw their last chance of winning a trophy disappear on Sunday when Valencia wrapped up the Spanish title with two games left.

Despite the fact they now have to battle arch-rivals Barcelona for the runners-up spot and an automatic place in next season's Champions League, Perez does not view the season as a failure.

"I wouldn't say it was that bad because we had a good season up until the final month and a half," said Perez who has hinted that he will seek re-election as president in July.

"We all had very great expectations but to call it a bad season would be wrong -- that would be the case if we had finished sixth in the table."

"I think that our own ambition and the desire to win everything took its toll on the players."

Spanish media have reported that Real will dismiss coach Carlos Queiroz at the end of the season and look to sign several new players.

Former Spain coach and long-time Real Madrid player Jose Antonio Camacho has been widely tipped as a replacement if Queiroz is discarded.

On the playing side, Argentina central defender Walter Samuel, his AS Roma team mate Francesco Totti, Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy and Real Sociedad midfielder Xabi Alonso have been touted as possible new recruits.