INQUIRER Sports

MADRID - Spanish Primera Liga side Valencia on Friday insisted that star striker David Villa is "not for sale", despite earlier reports that he was on the brink of a transfer to Real Madrid.

The decision, if confirmed, could force Real to look for other forwards, with Spanish media pinpointing France international Karim Benzema of Lyon or Atletico Madrid's Uruguayan star Diego Forlan as possible alternatives.

Real were hoping to capture Villa for a fee in the region of 40 million euros, having already this month paid 65 million to take Brazil playmaker Kaka from AC Milan and a world record 94 million to prize Portuguese winger Cristiano Ronaldo from Manchester United.

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez had said on Thursday that the completion of a deal between the clubs was "a matter of time".

But Valencia's new president, Manuel Llorente, said on Friday that Villa "is not for sale, he is the best striker in Europe and we want him to continue with us".

However, Llorente told a news conference he might reconsider his stance if he received a "scandalously" high offer for the 27-year-old.

Villa, the top scorer in Spain's Euro 2008 triumph, has never hidden his desire to play for Real.