The Italian chief revealed that an Inter representative had a discussion with Real's officials days ago over a summer deal for the Brazil defender, and it turned out that Los Merengues' chairman Florentino Perez is unlikely to Bolster his team's rearguard.

"Real Madrid have almost no interest in defenders, zero interest actually, which is fortunate because Maicon is the best full back in the world," Moratti told Il Giornale newspaper.

Moratti is meeting with Perez this week to discuss the potential move of Zlatan Ibrahimovic to Bernabeu.

The Sweden ace was widely expected to join European champions Barcelona on a part-exchange deal that would have seen Samuel Eto'o move in the opposite direction.

However, Barca president Joan Laporta was not 'so motivated' to complete the swap deal, and now Real are closing in on the 27-year-old hitman.

Counterproductive

Moratti admitted that selling influential duo Ibrahimovic and Maicon in the close season would be in Inter's best interest.

"As a fan I'd want them to stay, but as a president with a balance sheet to keep an eye on, I say that if they want to go, they can go. It would be counterproductive to keep them," Moratti said.

"I'd give them both a 50 percent chance of staying at Inter."