Real Madrid is heading into presidential elections, and Florentino Pérez is once again pulling out the argument that always worked - a big name, a big number, a big promise. This time the sum is 150 million euros for a player he described as "a galactico of the rank of Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaká." A formal offer, he claims, is going out immediately.

Only, one name he won't say. Pérez was precise only about who is not the target: "As for Haaland, everyone has denied it, so it must be a bluff." And he added that the new signing comes "from midfield up - it's not Haaland."

The Spanish media immediately pulled out the two most likely names from Paris Saint-Germain - João Neves and Vitinha. Both fit the description, and both would mean what Real is looking for after Toni Kroos's departure - control in midfield the club hasn't had for some time.

Pérez didn't miss the chance to mention the figure he most loves to repeat: the club, he says, is worth 10 billion euros and is the most expensive in the world. When someone repeats the price of their own name that often, it usually means someone will soon be challenging it.

Because this whole story comes at just the right moment - ahead of elections, when the rival candidate Enrique Riquelme is already promising his own big transfers. The question every Real fan knows by heart: is the 150 million a real plan or a pre-election billboard? We'll see the answer on Tuesday, if the offer really goes where Pérez promised.