Who is Real’s star for 2004?

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez says he will continue his policy of signing a world class footballer each year and is already in talks with the ‘leading player’ he expects to bring to the club next season.

‘‘This year we will again be trying to sign the best player in the world,” Perez told a meeting of business journalists on Thursday. ‘‘He has already been in contact with us.’’

Perez refused to reveal the name of the player, but in response to a question from one journalist who suggested Real might look towards Barcelona for their new recruit, he replied with a smile: ‘‘Don’t worry, it is not Ronaldinho.’’

	THE POSSIBILITIES
			Michael Owen (Liverpool & England): Has speed and age on his side Ruud van Nistelrooy (Man United & Holland): Deadly in the box, but Ronaldo is better Thierry Henry (Arsenal & France): The best, but will he leave the Gunners?