Gago wants to leave Real Madrid

Argentina defender Fernando Gago wants to leave Real Madrid after spending too much time on the bench this season but the Spanish giants are keen to hold on to him, a Spanish sports paper said Friday.

The 23-year-old, who joined Real at the end of 2006 from Argentine side Boca Juniors, needs more time on the pitch to be considered for Argentina's 2010 World Cup squad and has asked his agent to negotiate his move to another club in the winter transfer window, the daily Marca said.

But Real is counting on the player to make up for the absence of its midfielder and Mali captain Mahamadou Diarra who is scheduled to play for his national team during the 2010 African Cup of Nations between January 10-31.

Gago "remains an important player and I have no intention of letting him leave during the winter transfer window", said coach Manuel Pellegrini. "I'm sure that he will recover his place soon and help Real."

Gago started for Real during all but two of the club's 26 Spanish league matches in the 2008-09 season but he has spent less time in the starting lineup since Pellegrini arrived in July 2009.

Italy's AC Milan and Fiorentina have reportedly shown interest in signing the midfielder, who joined Real for 21 million euros (31.7 million dollars).

Argentina's national coach Diego Maradona has described Gago as one of the best defensive midfielders in the world and said that "he should never be left off an Argentina squad list".