Spanish media reported that the Madrid Zoo made an offer on Thursday to buy Octopus Paul, who attracted worldwide attention after successfully predicting the outcome of eight matches during the World Cup, including the final combat between Spain and the Netherlands.

A two year-old octopus Paul, the so-called "octopus oracle" predicts Germany's victory in their 2010 World Cup quarter-final soccer match against Argentina by choosing a mussel, from a glass box with the German flag instead of a glass box with the Argentinian flag, at the Sea Life Aquarium in the western German city of Oberhausen June 29, 2010. [xinhuanet.com]

Spain's AS.com said the zoo is hoping to get the octopus transferred from the German Aquarium Sea Life to Spain, following pleas from hundreds of Spaniards who now see Paul as a sort of hero after Spain won the tournament on July 11.

The zoo is offering to send several of its animals to the aquarium in exchange for Paul and is also aiming to outbid any other possible buyers.

England is trying to claim Paul as its own because Paul was born there, while the Italians said the octopus was caught in Italian waters.

A Spanish businessman has offered 30,000 euros ($40,000) to buy Paul, but "Sea Life" declined.

The two-and-a-half year old invertebrate would "receive the utmost attention, a reflection of the great affection that all Spaniards profess for him since he predicted that the Spanish squad would win the World Cup," said the Madrid Zoo.

The spokeswoman for sea life aquarium said they have not yet been in contact with the zoo and know nothing about any exchange of Paul for any other animals.

Octopi have an average life-span of three years, and AS.com said Paul could be worth 4.5 million Euros, nearly the price of a young professional footballer.