Spanish champions Real Madrid are set to rival Chelsea and Manchester City for Atletico Madrid striker Radamel Falcao.
By Zarif Rasul
Atletico, who have mounting debt problems, revealed earlier this week they would be willing to cash in on their prized asset for around £48million.
Unsurprisingly, City and Chelsea have been linked with the Colombia international, with Blues boss Roberto Di Matteo thought to be keen to provide competition for Fernando Torres.
However, Real Madrid president Florentino Perez is believed to have sounded out Atletico’s director general Miguel Angel Gil over a possible move for Falcao.
Senior Bernabeu chiefs weighed up a bid for Falcao in the summer, only to be deterred by Atletico’s unwillingness to sell to their fierce cross-city rivals.
But despite Real’s increased confidence, Gil doubts whether the Bernabeu side can afford the star striker.
“I doubt that Real Madrid can pay what we’re asking for Falcao,” he said.
“The sale [of Falcao] would take away a lot of problems. We are doing everything possible to have a decent squad to compete.”
