Porto lambast Real over Carvalho

Real have made no secret of the fact that the Portugal international is at the top of their transfer wish-list, along with Brazilian midfielder Emerson.

Carvalho has signalled his desire to clinch a move to the Spanish capital, but Porto have slapped a ‚é¼30 million (£20 million) price tag on his head and insist they will not be moving from the figure.

The reigning European champions have already sold Paulo Ferreira and Deco this summer to bring over £20 million into their coffers.

As a result, the Portuguese outfit are in no rush to sell Carvalho, and insist Real must triple their initial offer if they are serious about taking him to El Santiago Bernabeu.

"Real Madrid have offered ‚é¼10 million for Ricardo Carvalho, but I have a counter-offer," declared da Costa. "He will not be leaving Porto for less than ‚é¼30 million.

"As I have read, they (the Real board) have said that they are waiting for us to lower the price, but they can keep on waiting because I will not lower it by one euro.

"It happens that he is not for sale and I have already told the Real Madrid president (Florentino Perez) this in person.

"We will negotiate only if we want to, and we are the ones that will set the price because we do not need the money."

The Porto supremo also blasted the idea that Carvalho would be denied the chance to improve himself if he remained in Portugal, as Real boss Jose Antonio Camacho insinuated.

"To say that a player who stays at Porto is going nowhere is ridiculous," he continued.

"Mr Camacho more than anyone should know that in the last two years Porto have won the European competitions in which they have participated and that Real only just avoided the Uefa Cup last season.

"As a result it should be said that leaving Porto for Real Madrid is a relegation not a promotion."