"The president [Florentino Perez] wants to help him and he wants to leave but the third ingredient is missing and that is a club that wants to buy him," Real's director of football, Arrigo Sacchi, said. "If one comes forward then we will talk."A product of Real's youth system, the 28-year-old is one of the longest-serving members of the squad but has been forced to play second fiddle to some of the more high-profile players."Guti is a great player and he has made it clear he wants to play," said Sacchi. "But where? I could put him on the wing but he feels happier just behind the forwards or up front."In those positions we already have [Zinedine] Zidane and Raul, two great champions, and further forward we have Ronaldo , Owen and we may have Robinho too."So in order to play, Guti has to play out of position and that's why we understand his request."Guti, who has been one of Real's most impressive players on their pre-season tour of the United States, has been linked with a possible move to England with Everton and Tottenham both reported to be interested in signing him.Internazionale, however, have said they are "not optimistic" about their chances of signing Figo. The Italian club's president, Massimo Moratti, said he is not close to finalising a move for either Figo - with whom Liverpool have held talks, though they do not want to pay a transfer fee - or the former Portuguese international's Real Madrid team-mate Walter Samuel."We are not optimistic when it comes to the financial side of the deal," Moratti said "But from the sporting side, we are.".
* Adam Virgo is to leave Brighton to join Celtic, the club he supported as a boy. The defender will join the Parkhead club, subject to passing a medical and agreeing personal terms today, after Brighton accepted a £1.5m bid. "The manager spoke to me to tell me that the club had accepted an offer," Virgo said "When he told me it was Celtic my jaw hit the floor. I had no idea that Celtic were interested." Celtic are also closing in on the Japanese midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura. His club, Reggina, will meet Celtic officials today and are optimistic of agreeing a fee..
Patrick Friesacher has been sacked from the Minardi team, with the Dutchman Robert Doornbos to make his grand prix debut in Germany this weekend. The Austrian has lost his race seat with the back-of-the-grid team as sponsorship money has dried up, opening the door for Doornbos, the Jordan test driver. Minardi now boast an all-Dutch line-up as Doornbos will partner Christijan Albers for the remaining eight races of the season. "We welcome Robert to Minardi," said the team boss Paul Stoddart. "He has demonstrated over the last year he has the pace necessary to compete in Formula One.
