Real Madrid bid for Villareal´s Cazorla: report

AFP - 26 August 2008 15:35

Villarreal´s Santi Cazorla (right) vies for the ball with Osasuna´s Josetxo Romero during their Spanish league match in March 2008. According to reports, Villarreal have received an offer from Real Madrid for their attacking midfielder Cazorla, who helped lead Spain to victory at Euro 2008.

MADRID (AFP) - Spanish side Villarreal have received an offer from Real Madrid for their attacking midfielder Santi Cazorla, who helped lead Spain to victory at Euro 2008, according to reports here on Tuesday.

The Spanish champions are willing to pay the 23-year-old player's buyout clause of 16 million euros (23.6 million dollars), sports daily Marca reported.

"If Madrid came in and paid my buyout clause fee then that would be a great moment for me," the newspaper quoted the player as telling reporters.

"When Real Madrid are interested in you it is very difficult to take in. They are the best team in Spain and the truth is that it would be very difficult to say no to. I am still in a state of shock," he added.

Real have offered over 45 million euros for Valencia striker David Villa, the top scorer at Euro 2008, Spanish media reported Monday.

Valencia have so far rejected the offer but a meeting between officials from both clubs and the player's agent has been scheduled for Tuesday, AS reported.

Real's German coach Bernd Schuster has insistently demanded that the club recruit a striker if Robinho leaves the club as appears increasingly likely.

The club failed to recruit Manchester United's Portuguese striker Cristiano Ronaldo and have so far not been very active in the transfer period which ends at the end of the month.