River Plate will only sell Exequiel Palacios to Real Madrid after Club World Cup

River Plate sporting director Enzo Francescoli has confirmed they won’t negotiate the sale of Real Madrid target Exequiel Palacios until after the Club World Cup.

Both River and Madrid are competing in the semi-finals of this month’s tournament which takes place in the United Arab Emirates.

The midfielder’s release clause is said to stand at €20m with Los Blancos reportedly close to agreeing a five-year contract, although it remains unclear if the player will move in January or summer.

“They both know how the club works and they are calm,” Francescoli is cited as saying by Diario AS.

“We will not speak to any clubs until the tournaments ends.”

Palacios made his debut for River as a 16-year-old and has recently won two international caps for Argentina, attracting interest from both Barcelona and Atletico Madrid.

Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City have also been linked with the midfielder which is said to have speeded up Madrid’s pursuit of the deal.

The central midfielder has made just 48 first-team appearances for River although 20 of those have arrived this year, including helping his club to the Copa Libertadores title.

Such a move would represent a continuation of Madrid’s policy of signing young South American players with Brazilian teenagers Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo Goes captured this year.

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