Roma to bid for Baptista

Italian club AS Roma have been confirmed to make a bid for the want-away Real Madrid striker Julio Cesar Baptista.

Italian sports daily Corriere Dello Sport reports that Roma are ready to pay the 8 million pounds that Real want for the Brazilian international.

The Beast had a mixed season in 2007-2008 as he had a good mid-season and then faded out as he fell out of favour with the Real Madrid coach Bernd Schuster.

Baptista recently rejected an offer from Turkish giants Galatasaray in an alleged attempt to go to Roma.

Roma are supposedly to bid for the player next week and coach Luciano Spaletti has promised to play Baptista in his favoured striking role.