Madrid is in preliminary talks to hold the Champions League final later this summer, according to the city’s mayor.
The showpiece of European club football had been due to take place at Istanbul’s Ataturk Stadium last month, but the competition was postponed in March because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Uefa have delayed the tournament’s latter stages to allow domestic leagues the chance to finish their respective seasons and there has been no confirmation yet as to whether Istanbul will remain as host.
However, reports in recent days have suggested the remaining fixtures could be held in a compact ‘World Cup-style’ tournament, with Lisbon and Frankfurt both touted as potential venues.
The Spanish capital has hosted the match twice in the past decade, with Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu the venue for the 2010 final and Atletico Madrid’s Wanda Metropolitano the stage for Liverpool’s win over Tottenham last year.
"I know arrangements are being made, and I want to declare the city hall's absolute support for this Champions League final being held in Madrid," Tuesday's Marca newspaper quoted the city's mayor Jose Luis Martinez as telling network 13tv.
UEFA, which declined to comment on Almeida's remarks, said that a working group had been set up and "a variety of options" were being looked at, adding that an Executive Committee meeting on June 17 would provide more clarity.
The final is likely to be held without spectators, as has been the case in the major European leagues such as the Bundesliga, which returned last month, and Spain's La Liga.
Spain is among the worst affected countries by the coronavirus pandemic, recording more than 27,000 deaths. Madrid had the country's highest number of deaths and infections.
But with the infection rate falling significantly, normal life is slowly resuming in Spain.
"We have the adequate safety conditions, we have the infrastructure and public services to hold it and it would send a message to the world that despite all the drama we have lived, Madrid isn't giving up and is on the rise again," Almeida said.
Additional reporting by Reuters.
