Lucas Silva, the highly rated Brazilian defensive midfielder, has expressed his desire to join Real Madrid, but Premier League giants Arsenal are not giving up on him as yet.
The 21-year-old youngster, who plays his club football for Cruzeiro, claimed recently that joining Real Madrid would be a dream come true, and even revealed his desires to play alongside Cristiano Ronaldo.
“I don’t know if they are going to propose me joining them midway through or at the end of the season, whether I’ll stick around for the Copa Libertadores [South America’s equivalent of the Champions League] or not.
“I don’t yet know what’s going to happen. However it’d be interesting to stay for the Libertadores and then join them for pre-season,” he told SporTV.
Several of his team-mates are convinced that it is only a matter of time when he officially becomes a Real Madrid player.
Mayke, who played with him for four years said, as quoted by AS, via ESPN:
“Being able to play for a team like Real Madrid is the dream of any player. We know he will go, but he still can’t imagine it.”
Cruzerio striker Borges also praised the Brazilian youngster claiming it is only a matter of time before his Real Madrid transfer becomes official.
“Lucas has it all to play for Madrid and we are waiting to happen as soon as possible. He is a midfielder who presses well, moves the ball well, has a lot of quality in passing the ball and is a good finisher.”
Cruzeiro’s president Gilvan de Pinho Tavares has confirmed that the club is willing to sell their prized asset but only if the €15m valuation is met.
“There is no final offer,” Tavares said, via ESPN. “We are waiting for an official offer. We have already set the market price. For less than 15 million euros, Cruzeiro will not start to talk.”
Real Madrid reportedly have lodged a formal bid but they have offered less than €15m, as a result the bid was rejected.
Carlo Ancelotti recently said in press conference that the Los Blancos are interested in Silva, and could sign him in January.
“We have to wait for the Christmas period, when everything will be much clearer,” Ancelotti told www.realmadrid.com via Sky Sports. “Then we’ll make a decision.
“We are interested in Lucas Silva, but also in other players.”
Spanish newspaper Marca reports Cruzeiro have received several offers from elsewhere, but Premier League giants Arsenal have made a concrete offer and their offer match close the transfer value.
Real Madrid are confident the deal will be closed either this week or next. Madrid have already got the confirmation from the player and from club hierarchy but they are still not willing out dish out €15m for his signature.
Madrid feel that the situation is under control, although they are made aware that Arsenal had tabled up €15m for Silva.
One of the reasons why the transfer is dragging so long is due to the third party ownership, a common practice with Brazil and Portuguese clubs.
In Silva’s case, 70% of his economic rights belong to Cruzeiro, while the rest is held by various fund raising body.
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