Espanyol president rates Real Madrid's Celades

Espanyol president Daniel Sanchez Llibre has confirmed their interest in Real Madrid midfielder Alberto Celades.

The Spaniard is off contract in the summer and reports last week suggested Espanyol had made an initial approach about securing him to a pre-contract agreement.

Middlesbrough and Aston Villa are also interested in the playmaker and Sanchez Llibre said: "He is a good player, but there is nothing to report on this just yet."