Roberto Carlos to stay at Real until 2007
Brazilian international defender Roberto Carlos has extended his contract with Real Madrid until June 2007, the Primera Liga club said on Friday.
Brazilian international defender Roberto Carlos has extended his contract with Real Madrid until June 2007, the Primera Liga club said on Friday.
"Real Madrid has achieved its aim of keeping one of its most emblematic players at the club until the end of his career," Real's sporting director Jorge Valdano told the club's website.
Real said the 31-year-old Brazilian, who had been linked with a move to Chelsea, would have the chance of extending the deal for an extra year until 2008 if he met certain targets that had been agreed with the club.
The Brazilian leftback joins Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo and Michel Salgado on a list of players who have renewed their contracts with the club.
Roberto Carlos has won three European Cups, three league titles and two World Club Cups since joining Real in 1996 from Inter Milan for $7 million.
He had been involved in negotiations with Real over a contract renewal during the course of the season but the talks hit a stumbling block over the duration of a new deal.
Roberto Carlos said he wanted to remain at the club for four more years, while the club were initially only prepared to offer two.
It now appears they have reached a compromise deal whereby the player will remain at the club for at least three more years, but will be able to earn himself a fourth if he plays a certain number of games in his final third season.
Spanish sports daily AS said earlier on Friday the target was likely to be set at 30 in all competitions.
The agreement was the last deal likely to be brokered by Valdano as the former Argentine international announced two weeks ago he would be stepping down from his post from June 11.
It is also likely to be the last official deal made by Real before next month's presidential elections as the present directors stand down later on Friday to allow a temporary board to take charge of the day-to-day running of the club for the next month.
Club president Florentino Perez, who has already announced he will be standing for re-election, said on Thursday the club would make no more signings or agreements before the elections are held.