Real set to seal Zidane

Real Madrid are reportedly close to signing French midfielder Zinedine Zidane after Juventus accepted a world-record $US 65m offer for the star.

Real chairman Florentino Perez and his Juve counterpart Luciano Moggi were spotted on Tuesday night in Lugano, Switzerland, where they are reported to have thrashed out the details of the fee.

And Perez is now said to have flown out to Turin on Wednesday morning to finalise a deal that will smash the previous record which Madrid set a year ago when they paid $US 52m for the services of Barcelona's Portuguese ace Luis Figo.

Juventus have so far refused to confirm or deny the reports but, if Zidane does sign, he is expected to pick up wages of around $US 5.5m per season, the same as Real's top earners Raul Gonzalez and Figo.

It is thought Juve will complete the signings of both Pavel Nedved and Fabio Liverani if Zidane does leave for the Bernabeu.