River reject Real's offer for Higuain.

River Plate have turned down a 10-million euro offer from Real Madrid for 18-year-old striker Gonzalo Higuain.

"We're not satisfied with the price nor the idea of handing over the player at the end of the year," River Plate secretary Mario Israel told Reuters on Sunday.

Higuain, who this month turned down a call-up from France where he was born, made his debut for River last year.

He shot to prominence by scoring twice as River Plate beat Brazilian champions Corinthians 3-1 to knock them out of the Libertadores Cup in May and twice more in the 3-1 win over arch-rivals Boca Juniors last month.

"Higuain is only just 18 and still has to grow up," said Israel. "Real Madrid understood that. We've got a lot of games to play and we want him to stay at River at least until June 2007."

Higuain was born in France of Argentine parents and moved to Argentina when he was less than one year old.