Juventus and France playmaker Zinedine Zidane confirmed Saturday that he wants to move to Spanish giants Real Madrid.
Zidane, speaking to Italian daily La Repubblica from his holiday base in Tahiti, said: "I have chosen Spain. If it was down to me I would already beat Real Madrid."
The Frenchman, whose contract with the Turin giants expires in 2005, has frequently been linked with moves to Spain with his Spanish wifehaving made it clear she would like to return to her homeland.
The player was backed by his agent Alain Miglaccio who said: "Zidane has decided to play in Spain and he does not intend to make a u-turn.Juventus have known it for a long time and we do not know whey they continue to deny the evidence.
"We are expecting the club to announce that he can go, it would be a fine way to recognise a great player who has given them so much. Youcan't make someone act against their will. Zizou wants to go and he will not rethink it."
On Thursday Juventus chief executive Luciano Moggi had said the player, who joined Juventus from French outfit Bordeaux in 1996 after startinghis career at Cannes, would not leave.
But there is already speculation in Italy that Juventus have accepted the inevitable with reports suggesting they are lining up Fiorentina'sPortuguese midfielder Manuel Rui Costa to replace the 1998 World Cup winning hero.
-AFP