Real Madrid president Florentino Perez on Thursday declared that the David Villa's transfer from Valencia to Real "a matter of time".

Real are hoping to secure Villa for a fee in the region of 40 million euros, having already this month paid 65 million to take Brazil playmaker Kaka from AC Milan and a world record 93 million to gain Portuguese winger Cristiano Ronaldo from Manchester United.

Speaking to Valencia-based local television station Canal 9, Perez expressed optimism over the transfer of Villa, who was the top scorer at last year's European Championship and who has expressed a desire to move to Madrid.

The transfer would happen "in a context of friendship and cooperation" between Real and Valencia, according to Perez.

According to Spanish media, Valencia are holding out 50 million euros for the 27-year-old Villa with Real having previously offered close to 40million.

Perez also said that Real would not be able to propose a fee similar in size to those which are set to bring Kaka and Ronaldo, the last two winners of the European Footballer of the Year award, to the Bernabeu.

(Xinhua News Agency June 19, 2009)