Real Madrid have ditched plans to launch a summer bid for Wayne Rooney – because they fear the Manchester United striker would be unable to settle in Spain.
Bernabeu president Florentino Perez wanted to reunite Rooney with £80million world-record signing Cristiano Ronaldo after the Portuguese winger described his former Old Trafford team-mate as his perfect foil.
But Perez has abandoned the project after Real’s coaching staff warned him Rooney might struggle if taken from his roots in the North-West of England.
The worry was that United’s 34-goal striker would find it difficult to overcome the language barrier and cultural differences.
Frenchman Karim Benzema has had similar problems and been unable to settle in the Spanish capital following his £30million arrival from Lyon.
Sir Alex Ferguson has maintained all year his top scorer would not be allowed to follow Ronaldo to Spain. United are prepared to make Rooney the biggest earner in their history to keep him happy. The champions want to seal a contract extension with the 24-year-old worth £45million over five years – about £175,000 a week – before the World Cup in June.
Meanwhile, Karim Benzema is Manchester United's No 1 summer transfer target. Fergie is considering a £20million-plus swoop for the 22-year-old French striker.
On the eve of today's title crunch at Sunderland, United chief executive David Gill confirmed: "I can look you in the eye and tell you straight that we have the transfer funds available to the manager.
"Targets have been discussed already, as you'd expect, but it's not our style to talk about names and it never will be."
Fergie tried to sign Benzema from Lyon last summer but was snubbed when the 6ft forward chose to join Real in a £35m move.
He signed a six-year deal with the Spanish giants but has failed to hold down a regular starting place - completing 90 minutes in just FOUR La Liga games.
In another transfer news, Joe Cole is at the centre of a transfer triangle involving Luka Modric and Manchester United.
Spurs star Modric has emerged as a target for United as part of the club's team reinvention process.
With Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes coming to the end of their careers, United need to fill a massive void.
The loss of the two veterans is potentially more profound than last summer's sale of Cristiano Ronaldo.
A midfield playmaker and left-sided wide man are two obvious priorities.
United boss Sir Alex Ferguson believes Modric has the potential to fill either role. But Chelsea's out-of-contract Cole is also on United's radar.
At 24, Modric is four years younger than Cole so, in one respect, is regarded as a better long-term investment.
Against that Spurs would demand at least a £20million fee for Modric, whilst Cole will be a free transfer if his contract dispute with Chelsea is not resolved.
Chelsea, who plan a major rebuild of their squad this summer too, have still refused to meet Cole's demands for a new deal.
Cole wants his current contract of £80,000 a week to be raised so it is closer in line to the club's other England stars - Ashley Cole, Frank Lampard and John Terry.
On that basis, Cole doesn't feel the request of £120,000 a week over four years is unreasonable. But, thus far, he has only be on offered a relatively small rise as the club seeks to install a firmer control on their wage bill.
Harry Redknapp doesn't want to lose Modric but if he could offload the Croatian and then strike a deal with Cole as a replacement the Spurs boss would regard that as good business and help fund the signing of a new centre-forward.
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