Roma's Totti emerges as Real Madrid's galactico

Real Madrid are closing in on AS Roma skipper Francesco Totti.

The Italian international has emerged as the prime galactico for Real president Florentino Perez next season.

Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy's personal terms are too rich for the Madrid giants, while Perez revealed yesterday he was never serious about prising Thierry Henry away from Arsenal.

Instead, Totti is the name that tops Perez's summer shopping list. Roma's need to sell and Totti's declarations that he would only leave his hometown club for Real Madrid, have encouraged Perez.

The groundwork is already being laid by intermediaries ahead of Perez making a major move to prise one of the game's biggest names away from the Serie A in a move which is sure to rock Italian football.