Pérez not sure about Pogba and Lewandowski price tags

In his role as Real Madrid sporting director, Florentino Pérez is faced with a lot of short-term uncertainty. Efforts to lure Robert Lewandowski (27) to the Spanish capital began in December, when Karim Benzema’s summer plans looked more likely to consist of jail time than representing his country at the European Championship and Cristiano Ronaldo (30) seemed to be nearing a move elsewhere. Three months on though and things have taken on a very different complexion, so much so that the club’s ability to sign players in the next transfer window is no longer a sure thing. Adding to the intrigue is the fact that Real Madrid already possess an attacking trio that would be the envy of any club (with the exception of perhaps one) and a manager, Zinedine Zidane, who has expressed a greater interest than anyone else in signing Paul Pogba (22). Like Lewandowski, the Juventus midfielder is valued at 100 million euros and is a transfer target the club have been reconsidering over the past few days.

A heria operation in Chicago prevented a final meeting between Pérez and Ernesto Bronzetti, the Italian football agent who passed away on Tuesday aged 69 and was one of the Real Madrid president’s great confidants. While Bronzetti had no stake in the deal, he had nonetheless been urging his friend to secure Pogba’s signature for months before his death.

Carlo Ancelotti was also denied a final farewell with Bronzetti, the man who represented him and was somewhat of a father figure for the 56-year-old. The relationship between Pérez and Bronzetti was so close though that even the inexplicable decision to sack the jovial Italian coach wasn’t enough to affect it. Bronzetti’s funeral service will be held this evening in Terni (where he was born) and a dignitary has been sent to represent Los Blancos, but there is unlikely to be an awkward reencounter between Carletto and his former paymaster.