Inter aim to keep Maicon

Inter Milan president Massimo Moratti has made it clear that Real Madrid will not be able to land Maicon on the cheap.

New Real boss Jose Mourinho is thought to have identified Maicon as one of his primary transfer targets for the summer after working with the Brazilian right-back at the Giuseppe Meazza.

Moratti concedes there has been contact but the clubs are yet to agree on a valuation, with Inter set to demand a high price.

"We do not want to sell Maicon because he is an excellent player," Moratti told Corriere dello Sport .

"Do they expect a discount in Madrid? The Brazilian has been requested, but everyone has their own evaluation that they feel is right.

"I consider the player to be indispensable for us to aim high. People from Madrid have made contact, but we are calm and Maicon is too."

Reports suggest Real are offering €25million (Ј20.4m), while Inter are not currently prepared to sell for less than €35million (Ј28.5m).

There has been speculation that Inter could look to take somebody from Real, perhaps Xabi Alonso, as part of any agreement.

But Moratti said: "I don't think there will be any exchange deals."

Balotelli

The Inter president also declared that it would take a huge offer to prise Mario Balotelli away from the club.

The striker admitted earlier this week that he was flattered to be linked with a move to Arsenal, although he remains happy at Inter.

"Bring me €40million and Balotelli may go," Moratti is quoted as saying by Sport Mediaset .

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Tamudo departs Espanyol

Espanyol have confirmed that club legend Raul Tamudo has left the club.

Tamudo was a product of the Barcelona club's youth system, making his debut for the first team in 1996.

The 32-year-old - who has made 340 appearances for the club - was stripped of the club captaincy last summer after falling out with coach Mauricio Pochettino.

Tamudo featured fleetingly during his final year with the club and almost left in the January transfer window after a contract dispute.

Now Tamudo is ready to find a new club and Almeria have already been linked, but reports suggest he will take at least a couple of weeks to consider his options.

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Serra Ferrer buys Mallorca

Cash-strapped Real Mallorca have been bought out by a group headed by former manager Llorenc Serra Ferrer, the club announced in a statement.

The Spanish club are in the process of going into voluntary administration as they try to sort out debts of up to 85million euros.

Serra Ferrer coached the club for eight years from 1985 to 1993, where he made his name before going on to manage Real Betis, Greek side AEK Athens and also a spell at Catalan giants Barcelona.

Mallorca proved a surprise package in La Liga last term, only missing out on a UEFA Champions League place on the final day of the season to Sevilla to finish fifth, and they will now compete in the Europa League.

The 53-year-old takes over the shareholding of Mateu Alemany, who took charge in 2008 and was searching for investors, with a fee rumoured to be around 2million euros.

It is thought that Serra Ferrer will immediately look to appoint a new manager at the club, with Danish legend Michael Laudrup rumoured to be favourite to fill the post left by Gragario Manzano at the end of last season.

"We are taking up this option to buy," Serra Ferrer told the club's official website.

"The first thing to do is thank the people who thought similarly about trying to make Mallorca viable in sporting, economic and social terms."

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Real swoop for Di Maria

Real Madrid have confirmed they have completed the signing of Benfica winger Angel di Maria.

The 22-year-old has signed a six-year contract at the Bernabeu and moves for a reported fee of €25million (Ј20.3million).

Di Maria had been linked to a number of top European clubs after catching the eye for Portuguese outfit Benfica in the Europa League last season.

But Los Merengues have snapped him up and he becomes new manager Jose Mourinho's first signing since taking charge in the Spanish capital.

A statement on the club's official website said: "Real Madrid and Benfica have reached an agreement for the transfer of Angel di Maria.

"The player will sign a six-year contract with Real Madrid."

Di Maria is currently playing in the World Cup with Argentina, who have reached the quarter-finals of the competition.

The exciting flair player switched to Benfica in 2007 after moving from hometown club Rosario Central.

He is expected to be the first of a number of signings for Real this summer as Mourinho looks to make his mark on the team.

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Spain threaten breakaway

Spain could form a division without giants Real Madrid and Barcelona, Sevilla president Jose Maria del Nido has warned.

The country's top two tiers have opened discussions over creating a similar division to that of the Premier League.

However, one of the main bones of contention is the distribution of television money, which clubs currently negotiate individually.

That is contrasting to the Premier League, the German Bundesliga and France's Ligue 1, where collective deals are struck and revenue shared out.

"The clubs have to impose on the big two the conditions in play and if they don't accept them, no problem, we will have a league of 18 teams and they will have a magnificent one of two," Del Nido told the club's official website .

"This is a cake in which everyone participates and our decision will be radical.

"It is our responsibility to make sure it (the league) doesn't become a fight between only two teams."

Real and Barca, two of the world's richest clubs, rake in half the available cash with deals worth about €150million (Ј121.6m) a season.

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Colombian claims City deal

Colombian goalkeeper Cristian Bonilla says that he is set to sign for Manchester City.

Boyaca Chico say that they have brokered deals to sell their prized assets, Bonilla and Marco Perez, to Europe.

Bonilla is set for a move to Eastlands, while Perez is on his way to Real Zaragoza.

Seventeen-year-old Bonilla is a Colombian Under 20 international and is rated very highly, and he is delighted to be on his way to City.

"The only thing that is left to do is my medical tests and sign the contract," Bonilla told Futbolred .

Sources close to the deal have confirmed that City will look to loan Bonilla to a Spanish side next year in order to help him adapt to European football.

"Besides the fact that I may be loaned to another team, this is a very important door that gets opened for my career, so I will have to start to take English lessons very soon," he continued.

"This is a very important step forward in my career, everything has been arranged and according to what the president, Eduardo Pimental, has said to me the transfer has been confirmed."

The club have also concluded a deal that sees Perez move to Zaragoza.

"We have arranged a two-year deal," Pimentel said. "This is the best arrangement for Marco.

"Besides that Gimnasia La Plata wanted to buy his transfer as he had a very good performance there and River Plate were also interested, but his arrival to Zaragoza is something much more important."

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Marquez set for Pep talk

Rafael Marquez is to hold talks with Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola about his future after the World Cup.

Marquez, who was part of the Mexico side that exited the South Africa finals in Sunday's 3-1 defeat to Argentina, insists he needs to speak to the Barca coach before deciding whether to accept a new contract at Camp Nou.

The Mexico international, who skippered his team in the Group A win over France, has been offered a two-year deal to stay in Catalunya, but is weighing up his options after only starting seven games in La Liga last term.

With Yaya Toure seemingly destined to leave for Manchester City, 31-year-old former Monaco ace may enjoy greater opportunities to play for the Spanish champions as a holding midfielder - a role he excelled in with El Tri this month.

The versatile schemer, who is equally adept in central defence, warned Guardiola ahead of their projected discussions that if his situation does not improve next term, he could leave.

Marquez, who is a target for Galatasaray, told TV3 : "I am going to have a conversation with the coach to ask him about my future because watching what happened to me last year, when I didn't have too much participation, I want to know if now I am in the plans of the coach or not.

"I will have to know having a conversation with Guardiola. After that conversation I will know if I continue where I am or not. And if there is a chance for me to leave I will leave."

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