According to reports in the Telegraph, the oracle Paul the Octopus is not for sale. Despite Paul retiring from his match tipping days, Madrid Zoo had made a financial offer to Oberhausen Zoo to take him to Spain. After petitions from all over Spain to acquire the Paul, who correctly predicted Spain's victory over the Netherlands in the World Cup 2010 final, a spokesperson in Oberhausen said, "We are not in contact with Madrid Zoo. And we know nothing about swapping Paul for another animal or him going to Madrid Zoo for a transfer sum."

Officials in Spain are willing to up any offer on the table with some businessmen willing to fork out the money. One town in Spain has already made Paul an honoury citizen and the Octopus is also due to receive his own minature World Cup in his tank.

With Paul already receiving state benefits at the ripe age of two and a half, normally an octopus would live two to three years, his retirement home is still in the balance. After going through a lot in his life, including death threats asking for him to be made into a delicacy, Spain are still hopeful he gets the hero's welcome he deserves.