Spain

Galatasaray President In Baptista Talks

Galatasaray have made their interest in Julio Baptsita concrete by flying to the Spanish capital for face-to-face talks with Real Madrid about a deal.

Jul 6, 2008 7:42:41 AM

Julio Baptista - Real Madrid (Firo)

The Turkish club are hoping to land the Brazilian misfit to bolster their attacking options and club president, Adnan Polat, is holding the talks personally, according to AS.

Madrid have told Baptista that he is free to talk to other club and will not be a first choice member of Bernd Schuster's squad next and he is said to be considering all options.

Roma are also believed to be monitoring his situation, but Galatasaray have taken the upper hand by jetting to Spain to try and tie a transfer up quickly.

Los Merengues have mooted a price of €20m, but a fee of around €15m is more realistic and that is what the Turkish giants are aiming to persuade Madrid to accept.

Baptista has also been linked with a return to England, but after his disparaging remarks about the climate and food following a loan spell at Arsenal, he would resist going back to the Premier League.

After spending three seasons in São Paulo's first team squad, the 26-year-old moved to Sevilla in 2003 and made his name with two impressive campaigns for the Andlucian outfit.

A big money move to Real Madrid followed, but he failed to reproduce the form that made him a favourite at the Sánchez Pizjuán and was loaned to the Gunners in 2006.

Lucas Brown, Goal.com

Spain

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