CANNAVARO TO PROVIDE REAL DEFENCE?
The Spanish side have been on the look-out for a new centre half for several months, and their case was highlighted further as they conceded two more goals away to Osasuna at the weekend.
The Italian stopper is now the player that Jorge Valdano, Sporting Director of the club, wants to play alongside Spain and Real captain Fernando Hierro.
In the past few weeks both Iván Campo and Aitor Karanka have started alongside Hierro, yet neither has managed to find the consistency that manager Vicente Del Bosque is looking for as his club aim to defend the Champions League title.
The European Champions are likely to face stiff opposition for the Italian from Parma themselves, who will be loathed to lose the Italian international who has been a defensive rock at the Ennio Tardini since joining from Napoli five years ago.
However, the deal may be aided by the known interest from Parma in both Claude Makelele and Flavio Conceicao, one of whom may be used as a makeweight in the deal.
Although 27-year-old Cannavaro is under contract with the Italian giants until June 2003 this should not be an obstacle for two main reasons. The first, and most importantly, is that the Azurri star would like to go to Madrid.
The second factor is that his agent is also the son of one of Parma's coaching staff, which may give any potential deal more sway within the Parma camp, especially if one of the previously mentioned players could be attracted into the Serie A side's set-up.
The deal would cost Real Madrid around 3,500 million pesetas (£12.87 million), although they would be more likely to add a player into the equation, with Parma, fourth in Serie A, suffering from problems in the centre of the park.
Should Parma agree to the transfer, they already have a player seen as the suitable replacement in reserves, none other than Paolo Cannavaro, the younger brother of the former Napoli player.
At only 21 he maybe needs a little more time before he is fully prepared for the first team, but there is no doubting he has the qualities to go on to replace his older brother.
