Juventus and Arsenal in battle to sign Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain

Juventus have hit back at Arsenal in the fight for Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain.

The Italians were stung by a report that Gunners boss Arsene Wenger had met with the player’s father Jorge who doubles as Higuain’s agent.

Wenger has made it clear that Arsenal want Higuain and that they are prepared to bid £19million for the Argentina international as well as paying him £150,000-a-week.

However, at The Bernabeu on Sunday, Juve took the chance to make their pitch before a match between former stars of Real and Juventus which drew an astonishing 80,000 crowd.

Real president Florentino Perez held talks with his opposite number from the Serie A giants, Andrea Agnelli, at a restaurant in The Bernabeu.

Juve are desperate to land Higuain who, at the age of 25, still has his best years ahead of him.

Perez insists that Real are not trying to push the player out of the door but it is he who wants to leave.

And it seems both Arsenal and Juve may have to wait to see what the new Real Madrid manager — which is still expected to be Carlo Ancelotti — wants to do with the player.