Diarra agrees Real switch
Real Madrid will be Lassana Diarra's fourth club in the past three years
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Sunday, 21, Dec 2008 09:44
Portsmouth star Lassana Diarra has agreed a move to Real Madrid for around £20 million.
The midfielder will have a medical tomorrow at the Bernabeu to join the Spanish champions on January 1st.
Diarra is set to sign a four-and-a-half year contract with Madrid despite interest from Manchester City.
It will be the 23-year-old's fourth club in just three years having joined Chelsea in 2005 from French club Le Havre. The midfielder has won the FA Cup twice, first with the Blues in 2007 and then with Portsmouth in May.
The midfielder, who has played 16 times for France, moved to Arsenal last August before joining Portsmouth in January.
The transfer fee will be a massive boost for Pompey, who are reportedly in financial trouble.
Diarra is expected to be in the Real starting line-up immediately as defensive midfielders Mahamadou Diarra and Ruben de la Red have both been ruled out for the season with injury.
He will work under ex-Tottenham Hotspur boss Juande Ramos, who is in charge at Madrid until the end of the season.
After yesterday's 1-0 win over Valencia, Madrid are 12 points behind La Liga leaders Barcelona going into the winter break.