Real Madrid have had an offer for Manchester United and Chelsea target Mesut Ozil firmly turned down by his Bundesliga club Werder Bremen.
Bremen's director of sport Klaus Allofs this week revealed that not one single offer had been received for the 21-year-old.
That changed on Friday night when Real's director of sport Jorge Valdano confirmed to Germany's ZDF television during the interval of Bayern Munich's friendly match with the Spanish club that an official offer had been made.
It did not take long for Bremen to respond, turning down the offer out of hand.
"We have received an unacceptable offer that does not even provide any basis for negotiations," said their director of sport Allofs.
Bremen make their Champions League debut against Sampdoria next Wednesday and, should Ozil take part in that game, that would rule him out of appearing in the competition for another club this season and, hence, make him a less attractive target.
Madrid coach Jose Mourinho is therefore preparing to ask Valdano to return to Bremen with a better bid.
"He is a very good player and I would be delighted were he to come to us," said the Portuguese coach after his side's penalty shoot-out win over Bayern.
"Bremen have said no, so we will have to see how things develop.
"If he comes, it would certainly be excellent. Ozil would definitely help us."
