Pérez had been trying to raise the money to twist Moratti’s arm when Gaspart made a €15 million bid for Madrid’s unwanted striker Fernando Morientes, providing much-needed funds. Barcelona were helping Madrid buy a Camp Nou icon? It seemed too good to be true. It was. At 10 p.m. on deadline day, Gaspart reneged, accidentally leaving Madrid cashless and, therefore, Ronaldo-less. That was the plan, anyway.
