Anelka begs Real for another chance

France striker Nicolas Anelka has stunned his club Paris Saint-Germain on Monday by issuing a plea to Real Madrid coach Vicente del Bosque to give him another chance at the Bernabeu.

Anelka moved from Real Madrid to PSG for a French record transfer fee of £22 million last summer, but the controversial forward now claims he regrets leaving the Spanish champions.

"I really am missing playing for the best team in the world," said Anelka. "If they wanted me back I would go without hesitating."

The former Arsenal forward admits that he wasted his first opportunity at the Bernabeu. "I would have to start again from zero, but I wouldn't make the same mistakes again – it would be impossible to," he insisted.

"If I went, my team-mates would see that I am a new man. Today I'm more ready for the challenge," he told Spanish magazine AS.

Anelka made little impact during his time in Madrid and, although he played a major role in the Champions' League semi-final win over Bayern Munich, he left the club under a cloud.

When he left, the France star claimed that the management at the Bernabeu had 'insulted' him, adding: "Perhaps the Champions' League victory changed their opinion of me. But I will not forget anything. In Paris, I am going to play in front of 50,000 people who love me and respect me."

However, Anelka's latest revelation will have shocked PSG coach Luis Fernandez, who is busy trying to rebuild his squad after a desperately disappointing season.

The 22-year-old only scored eight league goals in France this season, but has still been linked with a £20 million switch to Chelsea. Anelka, though, insisted last month that he would stay at PSG for at least one more year.

"I'm content to stay with PSG and win a title - which I will do. They have not won the title since 1994, and that is my challenge: to help them win the championship," Anelka said.