Updated on Wednesday, July 09, 2008, 00:00 IST

New Delhi, July 09: Sports minister M S Gill on Wednesday disclosed that he was trying to bring European football giants Real Madrid to play in the country.

"Recently there was international match in Kolkata which got a very good response, so football is still not dead in India," Gill said.

"I was recently in London and met the Real Madrid boss during the Wimbledon final. I am going to try if they come and play in Kolkata. I asked him if they would come, he was very keen," the minister told reporters.

Recalling the Wimbledon final between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal on Sunday, Gill said he was very lucky to be there to watch it and termed it as the greatest match ever.

"It was the greatest match ever. I was very lucky to be there to watch it. If you look at the scoreboard it was one to be captured in camera. The scores went like 3-3 and deuce, 4-4 then deuce and it was going on like that. Federer had the last championships point, he could have taken that but Jo Hua Thik Hua (whatever happened was right)," he said about Nadal's win.

"Federer was more graceful but I don't think making records is that important. Federer could have gone on to win the sixth and seventh and then eighth but how does it matter.

"Nadal has won this time and Federer can win again next year. It was a fair result from Greek gods," he added.

Bureau Report