Rui Costa's Real thumbs-up

Fiorentina's Manuel Rui Costa could yet move to Real Madrid instead of Parma, despite The Viola's acceptance of an offer from the Italian club.

Real know that Rui Costa wants to play alongside his friend and international team-mate Luis Figo and are reportedly preparing a $US 27m bid for the talented Fiorentina star. However his current club have already accepted a $US 62m offer for Rui Costa and goalkeeper Francesco Toldo from Parma although neither player is completely in favour of playing in Serie A next season.

Rui Costa told reporters on Monday: "I'm the person who will have the last word. Fiorentina and Parma seem to be in a rush to seal my transfer but it is my career that we are talking about."

"I'm 29 now and this could be my last ever transfer so I have to think things through carefully. I have other offers on the table and I'd like to study them in my own time but I'm really flattered by the interest Real Madrid have shown in me - they are a very prestigious club and we'll see what happens."

Rui Costa took the opportunity to tell Real's president Florentino Perez and technical director Jorge Valdano how much he wants to play for the Spanish champions when he attended the wedding of Figo at the weekend.