Roma warn Real Madrid off Vucinic

AFP - 19 November 2008 16:45

AS Roma´s Montenegran forward Mirko Vucinic (centre) fights for the ball with Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel (right) and defender Wayne Bridge during their Champions League group match at the Olympic Stadium in Rome, November 4. Roma have warned Real Madrid to keep their hands off ucinic after reports linked the Spanish side to the Montenegran striker.

ROME (AFP) - Roma have warned Real Madrid to keep their hands off Mirko Vucinic after reports linked the Spanish side to the Montenegran striker.

Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy will miss the rest of the season with a knee injury and Bernd Schuster's side were hoping that Vucinic would be the man to replace him.

However, Roma told Corriere dello Sport that no deal will take place.

"We will not sell our Vucinic neither in January, nor in June," the club said. "Even if Real made an official request, which they haven't done and as far as we know they won't do so."

The 25 year-old is in his third season with Luciano Spalletti's team and has a contract that ends in 2010.

He has struggled to find the net regularly since joining the club in 2006, but this season he has featured more in his preferred centre-forward role and was rewarded with two goals against Chelsea in the Champions League.

Having played for Roma in Europe he would be cup-tied for Real Madrid's current Champions League campaign.

Nonetheless the most decorated team in European Cup history would still be will to pay around 30 million euros, with Dutch winger Royston Drenthe moving in the opposite direction.