Real Madrid are playing hardball with Cruzeiro over negotiations for Lucas Silva. Real have upped their bid to €12 million for the midfielder, but it still falls short of the €15 million Cruzeiro are now seeking.

Real are reluctant to go higher and instead will rely on the player to force the issue.

While he is tied to Cruzeiro until 2017, Lucas Silva has made it clear he doesn't want to let this chance of moving to Real slip away.

"Since childhood I have been following Cristiano Ronaldo's matches, from Manchester United and now much more at Real Madrid. He's making history.

"I never thought, never expected that one day, perhaps, I could play with Ronaldo, it would be a dream," said the youngster.