Real Madrid's Jose Mourinho: I'd Be Happy If We Signed Ruud Van Nistelrooy

The strongest statement yet from Madrid.
Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho's well-known desire for a new striker at the Bernabeu may yet be fulfilled by the arrival of former Blanco hero Ruud van Nistelrooy.

The veteran Dutchman has been engulfed in controversy over the last 48 hours, following reports that he was eager to force his exit from current club Hamburg in order to return to Spain.

He is in the line-up as HSV meet Schalke in the Bundesliga, but nonetheless Jose Mourinho remains enthusiastic about the idea of retaining the ex-Manchester United star's services.

"It would be great if we signed another striker," he told the press. "The club's now opened the door to this and that pleases me. But we need to be patient as there's plenty of time before January 31. The sooner we sign someone, the better.

"If it was Ruud van Nistelrooy I would be very pleased. He's a player that I know very well from the Premier League."