Chivu has had a superb season for Ajax, catching the eye in the Champions League, and has been linked with a host of clubs.
Ajax coach Ronald Koeman would love to keep his captain in Amsterdam, and Milan`s recent assertion that they would not bid for him in the summer must have come as a relief to the Dutchman.
It would seem that Real are set to follow Milan`s lead by not getting drawn into a bidding war for the Romanian.
Valdano was asked to comment on summer transfer activity at the Santiago Bernabeu, and he claimed that the prices of Chivu and another defensive target, Roma`s Walter Samuel, would put them off.
The Real supremo said: "We like Samuel and also Chivu, they are both great players, but their prices are prohibitive.
"Anyway, the young players at this club will always be given first chance to take a spot in the first-team."
