Salary demands stall Chivu move to Real Madrid

Real Madrid's bid for Roma defender Cristian Chivu has stalled because of differences over the player's salary demands, club president Ramon Calderon said on Thursday.

On Wednesday, the Italian club agreed a deal in principal to sell the Romania captain to Real for 18 million euros after previous offers from Inter Milan and Barcelona were rejected, but the move now appears to be in jeopardy.

"We have reached an agreement with Roma," Calderon told radio station Onda Madrid. "But we now have to agree personal terms with the player and from what I've been told there are substantial differences over the salary."

"We have to study it very carefully because the demands are in excess of our predictions."

Chivu's agent Victor Becali told Reuters on Thursday: "Real Madrid's wage offer was way below Inter's proposal... Chivu will remain with Roma unless Real make a new offer."

Spanish media said the Madrid club had offered the defender a gross salary of 5.2 million euros a year.

Chivu has one year left on his Roma contract and his agent made it clear the player could demand a much higher salary should he leave on a free transfer at the end of next season.

"If Chivu leaves as free agent next year, his future club could pay him a seven to eight million euro salary as they would not need to pay a transfer fee," Becali added.

"Inter made Chivu a good offer but the clubs were unable to agree on a transfer fee."

Becali said he and Chivu were now awaiting a revised offer from Spain.

"The ball is in Real Madrid's court now," he added. "If the Spaniards' offer is not satisfactory, Chivu will see out his contract at Roma."