Real Madrid coach pushes for Mascherano

Real Madrid coach Jose Antonio Camacho has urged president Florentino Perez to push through a deal for River Plate midfielder Javier Mascherano.

Camacho insists his squad is still a midfielder light and wants to bring the 20 year-old Argentina international to the Bernabeu in January.

Mascherano has confirmed contact with Real officials, while Boca Juniors revealed yesterday that a deal was close to being struck with the Madrid giants.

One complication is that the youngster does not hold an EU passport, though its understood his representatives are actively seeking his papers to help smooth his move to Spain.