Private equity firm CVC Capital Partners has held separate talks with Fifa and Real Madrid about funding rival global club competitions, according to the Financial Times.

The business newspaper reports that CVC is in discussions with soccer's global governing body about acquiring the commercial rights to the expanded Club World Cup, which will grow from seven to 24 teams in 2021, reports, www.sportspromedia.com/.

The FT added that Fifa will launch a tender process in the coming days for corporate groups to bid for the commercial rights to the revamped intercontinental tournament, the first of which will be staged in China

Commenting on the report, Real Madrid told the FT Perez has never spoken to CVC's head of media and sport. Both Fifa and CVC declined to comment to the publication on whether they had been in discussions.