Real swoop for Ronaldo

Ronaldo is joining Real's galaxy of stars

Real Madrid have added to their star-studded line-up by finalising a deal for the transfer of Ronaldo from Inter Milan.

The Brazilian World Cup hero is expected to sign a four-year contract after undergoing a medical in Madrid on Monday.

The deal, confirmed late on Saturday, will cost the European champions in the region of £22-28.5m with payments spread over several years.

Feature: The Ronaldo rollercoaster

Inter have already found a replacement for Ronaldo - Lazio striker Hernan Crespo.

The 27-year-old Argentine, who scored 13 goals for Lazio last season, will partner Italian star Christian Vieri in Inter's attack.

Crespo began his career with Argentina's River Plate before joining Parma in 1996.

After scoring 62 goals in four seasons with Parma, he moved to Lazio in 2000 and was Serie A's top scorer in his first year at the Rome club with 26 goals.

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Crespo was also the leading scorer in Argentina's 2002 World Cup qualifying campaign with nine goals.

But another star forward, Real's Fernando Morientes, is staying put, as his move to Barcelona is off after negotiations between the Spanish giants broke down.

Ronaldo will be presented on Monday at the Bernabau Stadium on condition that he passes a medical examination

Joaquin Marotto
Real Madrid spokesman

Morientes had been expected to move to Real's bitter Spanish rivals, freeing up funds to finance the Ronaldo move.

Under the terms of the Ronaldo deal, Inter will have until December to choose another Real player as part exchange for their Brazilian superstar.

The player is expected to be either Argentina's Santiago Solari, Spaniard Pedro Munitis or Brazilian Flavio Conceicao.

However, Real could refuse Inter's choice and pay an additional £6m (10 million euros).

Initially, Real were set to pay Inter £13m (20 million euros) for the Brazilian ace, plus striker Fernando Morientes and another player of their choice valued at about £6.5m (10 million euros).

Argentine star Crespo is set to join Inter from Lazio

Real Madrid launched a fresh bid for Ronaldo on Friday by offering Inter a reported £23.5m plus Pedro Munitis, but the clubs failed to reach agreement.

Since returning from the World Cup, Ronaldo, 25, had set his sights on joining Real, a decision which infuriated Inter's fans and saddened the club's president Massimo Moratti.

Ronaldo joined Inter from Real's rivals Barcelona in 1997, but his time at the Italian club has been hampered by serious knee injuries.

Ronaldo faces fans' fury

Inter had rejected previous bids for Ronaldo but in a meeting with Moratti in Milan on Wednesday, Ronaldo repeated his intention to join Real.

He will play alongside two other winners of the World Footballer of the Year title, Luis Figo and Zinedine Zidane.

Milan sign Nesta

Lazio also sold defender Alessandro Nesta to AC Milan on Saturday, as Italian clubs raced to complete their line-ups before the summer transfer window closed.