Manchester City and Tottenham have been encouraged by comments made by the agent of Real Madrid attacking midfielder Julio Baptista.

City and Spurs are chasing the Brazil international, whose agent Herminio Menendez said: "What is clear is that Baptista wants to play and is not part of (Real coach) Bend Schuster's plans."

Menendez was reacting to reports that Roma had opened talks with Real about a fee for Baptista and added: "I do not know if they've made contact with Real."