Real Madrid declare interest in Juventus' Paul Pogba

Paul Pogba is expected to leave the Serie A champions this summer

Real Madrid have declared their interest in the widely sought-after Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba.

Sky Sports reported last month that Manchester City were preparing a formal bid for the 22-year-old Frenchman - and they are just one of several top European clubs including Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona who are keen to sign him.

Juventus have said they will only consider extraordinary offers for Pogba after his agent, Mino Raiola, predicted a bidding war for his player that could fetch a fee as high as €80million - no formal offers have yet been made.

And Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane told French broadcaster RTL on Monday: "Many clubs are interested in him and among these is Real Madrid.

"I think Pogba is a fantastic player. What I like most is that it can do everything. He is a complete player, who can also score, who is not afraid to go forwards. In terms of quality, he is extraordinary."

City are keen on former Manchester United trainee Pogba, but he does not qualify as a home-grown player having failed to reach the required quota of appearances whilst at Old Trafford.

Pogba spent two seasons under Sir Alex Ferguson from July 2010 to 2012 but he struggled to make an impact, being given just a handful of substitute appearances, before being allowed to move to Juventus.