20/10/2007
Ronaldo on Chivas' 'trophy' list

Two-time World Cup winner from Brazil is one of the big-name players the MLS team could be interested in signing in future, though co-owner Cue says it's a longshot.

Chivas USA, in need of some extra scoring punch, has AC Milan striker Ronaldo on a list of "trophy players" the team is looking at as possible future acquisitions.

But Antonio Cue, co-owner of Major League Soccer's Western Conference leader, said Friday that, despite rumors to the contrary, there have been no talks with the two-time World Cup winner from Brazil, adding that Ronaldo is not necessarily the player Chivas needs.

"To be honest, I don't think it's going to be that guy, but we're looking at options," Cue said. "There's a list of more than 10 players that are trophy players, if you want to call them that, or franchise players, but it has to be the right fit for our team."

The signing of David Beckham, Ronaldo's former teammate at Real Madrid, and of other established stars such as Cuauhtemoc Blanco, Juan Pablo Angel, Denilson and the like has changed the MLS landscape this year, Cue said.

"I'm sure that Ronaldo and a lot of European guys are looking at this market now. So I think we're going to have a good chance, starting in January" when the international transfer window opens "to think about a big player, a name, but I don't know if that's the right way to go," Cue said.

"Ronaldo's great because he's a Brazilian, but there are a lot of other good players. There are good players in Mexico that now want to come, so it's been changing dramatically. I haven't even talked to the guy, but Ronaldo is one of the 10 on the list that could be a great move for any [MLS] franchise," he said.

Ronaldo, 31, was signed by AC Milan from Real Madrid for $10.7 million at the end of January and was rumored to be headed for the New York Red Bulls before they signed Angel and former U.S. national team captain Claudio Reyna.

Meanwhile, potential future acquisitions will not help Chivas USA tonight, when it plays the defending league champion Houston Dynamo with the conference title on the line. Instead, Chivas Coach Preki will have to scramble to find an offense.

It could be a challenge.

Ante Razov, with the second-most goals all-time in MLS, is sidelined with a bum left knee. Razov said Friday that he was determined to make it back in time to have a role in the playoffs, which begin next week. "There's a sign on my locker that says I will play during these playoffs," Razov said. "I'm sticking to it."

Maykel Galindo, the team's leading scorer this season with 12 goals, is bothered by an abdominal strain. The Cuban striker has kept on playing but has not scored in the last six games. Backup forwards John Cunliffe and Laurent Merlin have been inconsistent and only marginally productive. Cunliffe has three goals and Merlin has one.

With such problems to solve, Preki was paying no heed Friday to the Ronaldo rumors.

"I have no idea," he said when asked about the possibility of acquiring Ronaldo. "Right now, I can't focus on that. With a month to go [until the Nov. 18 MLS Cup final] . . . I can't worry about Ronaldo or [Zinedine] Zidane."

TONIGHT

vs. Houston, 7:30, FSC, FSE

Site -- Home Depot Center.

Radio -- 1020.

Records -- Chivas 15-7-7; Dynamo 15-8-6.

Record vs Dynamo -- 0-2.

Update -- Preki said it's between Cunliffe and Merlin to replace Razov in the starting lineup. "They're both fighting for a spot," he said. "They've got to make up my mind." Houston, which knocked Chivas out of last year's playoffs en route to the league title, will be missing defensive players Ryan Cochrane, Eddie Robinson and Ricardo Clark because of suspensions.

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21.10.2007 09:11 +0400
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