The Argentinian has expressed a wish to play in Spain, and he recently confessed to wanting to play for Real next season, providing they could hand Inter Milan an acceptable offer.
However, agent Jorge Oliva claims that Barca are leading the hunt for his client, with a move to Camp Nou a possibility after the presidential election at the weekend.
"If I say which club is closer to Zanetti, I say Barcelona and not Madrid," Oliva told Marca. "Real had thousands of opportunities to speak with me about Javier`s situation and they have never done it."
Zanetti has been a long-term target of both Spanish giants and their explosive relationship may be tested a little further by the prospect of another transfer battle over the signature of the talented South American.
With the Luis Figo situation also set to ignite a massive row between the two La Liga superpowers, there is still plenty of mileage in the transfer merry-go-round this summer.
