Palacios' agent hopeful of sealing Real Madrid move amid Barcelona interest

Exequiel Palacios is close to sealing a move to Real Madrid, according to his agent.

The Argentine star is reportedly on the verge of a move to the Spanish giants with his representative Renato Corsi stating a host of other clubs - including Real's bitter rivals Barcelona - are interested in him.

And a transfer could be finalised after the 20-year-old midfielder has starred for River Plate against Boca Juniors in the second leg of the Copa Libertadores final at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday.

"I hope he can play for Real Madrid," Corsi told AS. 

"They have called us from Inter, from Roma, from Wolfsburg. Many clubs are interested but the one that has got the furthest is Real Madrid.

"With Barca, we got to talk at a moment, but nothing was advanced."

The second leg of the Copa Libertadores final - poised at 2-2 after the first leg at Boca's stadium - has twice been postponed after River fans attacked their opponents' team bus.

The violence came before the scheduled second leg at River's Monumental stadium last month and saw the game called off then switched to the Bernabeu.

While missing out on playing in such a showpiece at his home stadium is a blow for Palacios, the trip to Madrid could be an opportunity to finalise the deal.

"He, as a River fan and as a player at the club for 10 years, wanted to play the final in the Monumental," added Corsi.

"But with this problem there, he would also love to play in that stadium [the Bernabeu] in the beautiful country of Spain.

"Real Madrid has been very good to us. The two clubs were in talks and were going to follow that with meetings about Exequiel after the finals.

"In Madrid they are going to talk now."

The midfielder joined River as a youngster and won his first Argentina cap this year.