Soccer: Around the globe

"The matter is closed now, he's a Manchester United player," Ferguson said at a news conference. "He's going to be a player here."

Meanwhille, Real Madrid won't sign any more players this offseason after Rafael van der Vaart, the club's President Ramon Calderon said, hinting a move for Ronaldo is unlikely.

Netherlands midfielder Van der Vaart today completed his move to the Spanish soccer champion from Hamburg, signing a five-year contract.

He's "our first signing of the year and definitely the only one," Calderon told reporters in Madrid, in comments broadcast on Radio Marca. He didn't mention Ronaldo.

Madrid since June said it would like to acquire Ronaldo, English soccer's two-time player of the year, if he decides to leave Manchester United.

United complained to world ruling body FIFA in June, saying Madrid "continued to involve itself in the future" of the Portuguese forward. Madrid denied wrongdoing, saying it hadn't held talks with Ronaldo.

FIFA took no action and instead asked the Spanish soccer federation to remind the team about the "potential legal consequences" of inducing Ronaldo to break his United contract, which has four years to run.

Rangers dumped from Champions League

Rangers, a finalist in May's UEFA Cup, was dumped out of European soccer competition at the first hurdle by Lithuanian club FBK Kaunas.

The Scottish team last night lost the second game of a two- match Champions League qualifier 2-1 after drawing the first match in Glasgow 0-0.

Linas Pilibaitis got the winning score four minutes from the end as Rangers, which went into the match with a lone striker in Kenny Miller, played for a draw.

Rangers lost the final of the second-tier UEFA Cup 2-0 to Zenit St. Petersburg last season after finishing third in its Champions League group behind Barcelona and Lyon. Teams that lose at this stage of European soccer's richest competition aren't compensated by dropping into the UEFA Cup.

Madrid get Dutch star

Netherlands soccer midfielder Rafael van der Vaart is to join Real Madrid from Hamburg on a five-year contract, the Spanish champion said.

Van der Vaart, who sat out an exhibition game between the teams two days ago, told his Web site he would be presented by Madrid tomorrow. Sports newspaper Marca put the transfer fee at 10 million euros ($15.6 million).

Hamburg confirmed it agreed to the trade, without giving financial details. Van der Vaart's signing is subject to a medical exam, Madrid said on its Web site.

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