The AS sports daily reported Sunday that Real officials had been in touch with their AC Milan counterparts two weeks ago and offered Brazilian Ronaldo for sale during the January transfer window. They then added the name of Italian Cassano.

"AC Milan's response left no doubt that they were not interested in acquiring the services of Ronaldo and Cassano," AS reported.

The paper said that Real were increasingly at loggerheads with the out-of-favour Brazilian as the Spanish league programme resumes after the winter break.