Real Madrid may be turning their transfer attention from attack to defence.

While uncertainty remains over their acquisition of Ronaldo from Internazionale, Madrid are considering a move for Monaco’s Mexican defender, Rafael Marquez.

Monaco coach Didier Deschamps wants to keep Marquez, particularly after a second successive French league defeat at the weekend.

Marquez has other ideas. He said: “Neither my agent nor the club have spoken to me directly yet but I do know that the possibility of a move before the transfer deadline is there. I’ve also been told I have been watched by Juventus, Lazio and an English club.

“If it were up to me, however, I would want to go to one of the big Spanish clubs – maybe Real Madrid or Barcelona or Valencia.”

Madrid were first linked with Marquez a year ago. When the playerreturned from the World Cup for pre-season training with Monaco he warned Deschamps then that, if the right offer came along, he would want to take it.
By Keir Radnedge