Real Madrid coach Bernd Schuster was left fuming after his board's failure to add another striker to his squad before the transfer deadline. AS says Schuster pleaded for a new forward in several meetings with Real president Ramon Calderon and technical chief Miguel Angel Portugal.

David Villa (Valencia), Karim Benzema (Lyon), Emmanuel Adebayor (Arsenal), Luis Fabiano (Sevilla), Diego Milito (now of Genoa) and Klaas Jan Huntelaar (Ajax) were all on Schuster's shortlist. The German told friends: "I am sure one of these six will come."

But in the end, Real failed to add to Schuster's squad and even missed out on former Real Zaragoza striker Milito after choosing to pour their energies into trying to sign Villa on deadline day.