Ruud van Nistelrooy is expected to sign his new contract with Real Madrid this week.

The Dutch striker's agent, Rob Linse, is due in Madrid to finalise terms with Real directors ahead of Van Nistelrooy putting pen to paper on a deal which will keep him in Spain until 2010.

A Real board source told AS: "Inside the dressing room, they compare him with Raul. Ruud is not known for going out in Madrid in the evening and is always available to his teammates. He is an impeccable character."