Real Madrid will test the resolve of Manchester United for Wayne Rooney. The Daily Star says Bernabeu president Florentino Perez is obsessed with signing Rooney and is willing to offer the same £80m to Manchester United for the striker as they paid out for Cristiano Ronaldo. And the club will also use Ronaldo to try and help lure Rooney to Spain.

It is not the first time that Rooney has been linked with Real. But now they are ready to test United's resolve given the mountain of debt at Old Trafford.

New boss Jose Mourinho had a meeting with director general Jorge Valdano yesterday, and Real's transfer strategy has now been agreed.

A club source said last night: "There will be a couple of signings in the next two weeks but the big names will arrive after the World Cup.

"This is not madness. Rooney would be perfect for Real Madrid because of his hunger and desire.

"It is not impossible to sign him. People said that initially about David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo, but they both made the move.

"In football nothing is impossible for Florentino Perez."