Real Madrid will compete with Chelsea and Manchester City for the Napoli forward Edinson Cavani after the Spanish club held talks with the Uruguayan’s representatives.

Reports in Spain suggest Real had been due to speak with Cavani’s agent late last month only for the discussions to be postponed while Jose Mourinho negotiated his departure from the Bernabeu and the club president, Florentino Perez, concentrated on his re-election.

With those issues now resolved, the meeting was rescheduled and held earlier this week in Madrid.

Cavani has expressed a desire to play for either Mourinho or the new City manager, Manuel Pellegrini, but is now aware of Real’s interest, with the club apparently prepared to trigger the €63 million buy-out clause in the striker’s contract if necessary.

It seems unlikely that either Chelsea or City would do the same, with the former club’s interest having amounted to tentative offers involving a player exchange.

Another prospective target for Mourinho, the former Chelsea midfielder Nemanja Matic, wants to remain at Benfica for another season at least, potentially scuppering any hope the London club and Manchester United had of luring the Serb back to the Premier League this summer.
Guardian Service