Luque escapes Real's clutches

Real's plans to bring Mallorca's Alberto Luque to the Bernabeu have run aground after the player signed a new two-year deal with the islanders.

Los Merengues had hoped to coax the 23-year-old to the Spanish capital at the end of the season, when his old contract was due to expire but the player has decided to extend his stay at Son Moix for a further two years, boosting his buy-out fee from $12million to $28million in the process.

Luque is aware that he has to impress national team coach Jose Antonio Camacho, who could yet take the striker to the World Cup next June and it would make sense for him to hang on at Mallorca where he is a regular in the starting line-up.

Barcelona and Roma were also hoping to sign the player.