MADRID (Bloomberg) — Real Madrid are set to acquire Manchester United defender Gabriel Heinze, a day after he failed to force a move to his club's archrival Liverpool, and the Spanish team also agreed to sign Chelsea's Arjen Robben.

Heinze, 29, who can play in the centre of defence or at fullback, will sign a four-year contract, and winger Robben will join on a five-year deal, Primera Liga soccer champions Madrid said in a statement on its web-site. It didn't disclose financial terms.

Madrid have already added six players to their roster since securing a first trophy in four years. Coach Bernd Schuster, who took charge in July after Fabio Capello was fired the previous month, promised a more attacking style of play this season.

Forward Javier Saviola joined from Barcelona, midfielders Wesley Sneijder and Royston Drenthe arrived respectively from Dutch clubs Ajax and Feyenoord, while centre-backs Christoph Metzelder and Pepe, and goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek are the other additions.

Heinze had tried to move to Liverpool after arguing that a June 13 letter from United gave him permission to discuss a move if any club met its asking price, which UK newspapers said is about $13.5 million. United then refused to sanction a transfer to the Reds.

A two-day Premier League arbitration panel dismissed his case, saying the letter "did not create an obligation or binding agreement."

Heinze, a $13.8 million signing from Paris Saint- Germain, made 83 appearances in three years at United. He hasn't played in any of the opening three matches of their Premier League defence and started fewer than half its league games last season as manager Alex Ferguson favoured Patrice Evra at left-back.

Dutch winger Robben also is yet to play this campaign. The 23-year-old will join international team-mates Ruud van Nistelrooy, Drenthe and Sneijder when he passes a physical examination.

The former PSV Eindhoven player won two English league titles with Chelsea in a three-year spell, during which he scored 19 goals in 106 appearances.

Real also sold fullback Cicinho to Italy's Roma. The 27-year-old Brazilian spent two seasons in Spain.