Real coach complains of being left in dark over transfers

Real Madrid's German coach Bernd Schuster hit out Wednesday at the Spanish club's managers as he complained that he was being kept in the dark over possible new recruits.

“I am the last to find out anything. I would love to know more. I am pleased because the president has come to inform me of what is going on,” he told reporters at the club's training camp in Austria, Spanish media reported.

“I am not that bothered as I am used to be being more or less the last to find things out. Everyone else seems to know things before me,” he added when asked about the possible arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo from Manchester United.

Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon, who arrived at Real's Austrian training camp on Wednesday, said earlier in an interview published in sport daily AS that he is still willing to splash out on the Portuguese star.

Calderon said the Spanish champions were close to signing Dutch midfielder Rafael van der Vaart from Hamburg, as desired by Schuster, but were not interested in recruiting Spain striker David Villa from Valencia.

Real have long been linked with a big money move for Ronaldo, with reports suggesting the price tag could be 85 million euros (134 million US dollars), but Manchester have made it clear they will not let the 23-year-old go.

Schuster has hoped to add several new faces to his squad and has reportedly blamed the focus on efforts to recruit Ronaldo for the lack of new signings so far.

Real Madrid's arch-rivals Barcelona meanwhile have dished out over 80 million euros on new players.