Real Madrid have refuted claims of their reported interest in Juventus striker and Tottenham Hotspur target Fernando Llorente, according to Madrid-based daily AS.
Rafael Benitez was reported to be considering a bid for the Spain international to bring him to the Santiago Bernabeu this summer as he builds his team for the coming season.
Llorente has been with the Old Lady since the summer of 2013, but last season he played second fiddle to fellow Spaniard Alvaro Morata at the Juventus Stadium.
Tottenham Hotspur are eager to entice him to White Hart Lane as they bid to challenge for a top four spot next season.
And they will be buoyed by recent developments in their quest for the Spain international.
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Prior to his departure for Turin, Llorente had an eight-season stint with Athletic Bilbao’s first team, having come through the ranks of the Basque outfit’s youth academy.
He has also earned 24 caps with the Spain national team, scoring seven goals in the process.
