QPR have aborted secret plans to host a prestigious friendly against Real Madrid at Wembley because they would have lost £500,000 on the deal.
The scheme would have given massive kudos to the Hoops as they took on the likes of Ruud van Nistelrooy and co at the home of football. But when costs were factored in, the Rangers board discovered it would leave them with a massive shortfall.
Even with Rangers new cash-rich board, the club are adamant money won't be wasted on inflated transfer fees and column-gathering PR moves, no matter how fanciful.
However, Rangers are still hoping to cement relations with the Galacticos that could lead to future player exchanges.
The friendly, planned for this summer, would have cost £1.2million to stage - £800,000 to hire the stadium, and £400,000 to Real as their guarantee. But with the likeli-hood of a Wembley only one-third full at best, the cash tills would have been rattling just as emptily as the arena.
Real president Ramon Calderon was a guest at the 3-2 home win over Blackpool last month, where he saw Rangers
cling on to a 3-2 win after going 3-0 up. However, Calderon apparently enjoyed the game, and has promised to keep in touch with pal Flavio Briatore.
It was the Rs co-owner who invited him to the game in the first place.
A Rangers source said: "Senor Calderon likes motor-racing, and that's how he knows Flavio. QPR won't be getting the likes of van Nistelrooy or Raul in any loan deals, but they could get plenty of others who might fit the bill. "Real's facilities are among the best in the world, so maybe some of our youth players might benefit from a training spell there as well."
