The Times:
Banished by Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United, rejected by Marco van Basten in Holland's hour of need, Ruud van Nistelrooy has endured a miserable few months, but life improved considerably for the forward yesterday when Bayern Munich and Real Madrid confirmed their interest in signing him, albeit for considerably less than United's £15 million asking price.
His fate is not clear yet, with both clubs eager to examine the fallout from the Italian match-fixing scandals, which could result in the arrival on the market of strikers from AC Milan, Fiorentina and Lazio as well as Juventus. But Bayern and Real both have a firm interest in Van Nistelrooy, who would relish a move to either club, particularly Madrid, having been unenthused by tentative inquiries from clubs such as SV Hamburg, Valencia and Newcastle United.
Real's interest opens up the intriguing possibility of Van Nistelrooy, 30, moving to Madrid at the same time as Cristiano Ronaldo, with whom a series of spats on the training ground were a prime factor in the collapse of his relationship with Ferguson and Carlos Queiroz, the assistant manager. But that would be a small cross to bear for the Holland forward, who, irrespective of what happens to his United team-mate, is wanted by Fabio Capello, the new Real coach.
Rámon Calderón, the new Real president, confirmed Capello's interest in Van Nistelrooy yesterday, just hours after Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, the Bayern chairman, had talked confidently of his club's chances of landing the forward.
The Guardian:
A dire last few months for Ruud van Nistelrooy, which saw the Dutch striker sidelined at Manchester United after falling out with Sir Alex Ferguson and dropped by Holland during a disappointing World Cup, look likely to end with his transfer to one of the biggest clubs in Europe. Last night Real Madrid and Bayern Munich were jostling for position as the queue started to form for his signature.
The German champions, whose attack currently includes another Dutchman, Roy Makaay, as well as the Germany striker Lukas Podolski, claim to be the player's choice. "He wants to come to us. We know that," said their chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge. "Now we will approach the thing with all calm. We have to speak with the player and naturally with Manchester United. But there are no grounds for haste."
Real Madrid's interest might force them to speed up negotiations, with the Spanish club's new manager Fabio Capello including the 30-year-old among a list of players he would like to bring to the Bernabéu. "It seems as though Fabio likes Van Nistelrooy," said their newly elected president Ramón Calderón. "He could complement Ronaldo."
The Mirror:
Ruud van Nistelrooy is ready to turn his back on the riches of Real Madrid - because Cristiano Ronaldo is heading there.
The Manchester United striker has told Bayern Munich that he is prepared to ignore the overtures of the Spanish giants, and instead make a shock move to the German champions.
Van Nistelrooy famously had a training ground bust-up with Ronaldo that seems to have effectively forced him out of Old Trafford, and he will refuse the chance to team up with the Portuguese winger again.
PA:
Reports in Spain suggest new Real boss Fabio Capello would love to sign van Nistelrooy to be the make striker in his Madrid revolution.
But Bayern chairman Rumenigge claims the Dutchman wants to play his football in Bavaria next season.
"The player wants to come to Múnich", affirmed Rummenigge to German paper Bild am Sonntag.
Rumenigge now says Bayern will try to speak to United and van Nistelrooy in a bid to get a deal done.
If as expected he does leave Manchester it's expected United will try to sign Atletico Madrid hotshot Fernando Torres to replace him.