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Isco edges closer to Madrid move

Isco has been on Manchester City and Real Madrid's hit list since the transfer window opened © PA Photos

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Isco's proposed switch to Real Madrid has moved one step closer after Los Blancos president Florentino Perez and the player himself hinted that both parties are keen on a deal being completed.

Madrid and Manchester City have been battling for the Malaga forward's signature for some time.

City appeared to be the early favourites due to the Spaniard having worked under City boss Manuel Pellegrini during their time together at Los Boquerones.

However, reports have since surfaced in the Spanish media claiming that the Bernabeu outfit have persuaded the youngster to choose their offer and snub interest from England.

Sergio Ramos and Alvaro Morata have both recently welcomed the move, and now Perez is the latest Madrid man to talk up Isco's arrival.

"He wants to be a Real Madrid player and Madrid want him," he told 20 Minutos.

While Isco refused to confirm who he would be signing for when speaking to AS, he did say of the Spanish side: "Madrid excites me. They are one of the best teams in the world."

Perez, who is hopeful that Carlo Ancelotti can be installed as the club's new coach as soon as Laurent Blanc moves closer to taking over at Paris Saint-Germain, also spoke of his desire to tie down Cristiano Ronaldo to a new contract.

The Portugal international has been linked with a summer return to Manchester United, while he also recently took to Twitter to claim "all the news about my renewal with Real Madrid are false".

Perez, though, says he is not worried about the forward's remark and is confident of getting the player to put pen to paper on a new deal.

"Cristiano made these statements because there was some information in the media which did not match reality," Perez said. "Soon we will clarify this issue. I have no doubt that Cristiano is going to retire at Real Madrid. I am convinced that he will renew."

He added: "It [renewing with Ronaldo] is our most important activity, around whom we can build the Madrid of the future."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.