Cruzeiro midfielder Lucas Silva says he is "proud and happy" to have been the subject of reported interest from Real Madrid.
Marca put Silva, 21, on its cover on Wednesday and Thursday this week, claiming that a 15 million-euro deal was close to being agreed for the player.
The Brazil under-21 international, who was also linked with Manchester United in the summer, told the Spanish paper that this supposed interest from Madrid is a real motivation for him to keep on working and improving.
"The cover made me very happy," Silva said. "That a club like Madrid wants you is always something to be proud and happy about. I know I must focus on Cruzeiro, which is my team, but the interest from Real Madrid helps to keep working to the maximum."
Marca says Silva is seen as a replacement for Sami Khedira, who is expected to leave the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu next summer when his current contract ends.
Cruzeiro director Alexandre Mattos has denied to ESPN Brasil that any transfer has been agreed.
Silva, though, said that should a deal between the clubs be struck then he would be delighted to move to the Spanish capital.
"Of course I would like to play for Real Madrid, it would be an honour," he said. "But for that to happen there would have to be an agreement between the clubs. I belong to Cruzeiro and I have a lot of respect for my club. But if a team like Madrid calls me, I believe I would accept, of course."
Silva said he had discussed Madrid with Cruzeiro teammate Julio Baptista, who spent the 2005-06 season at the Spanish club.
"Julio is a great person and we have a good relationship," he said. "Yes, I have spoken to him about Real Madrid, because he had a good spell there. He has always told me it is a great team, one of the biggest in the world."