Helguera turns down Barca to stay at Real

Real Madrid star Ivan Helguera extended his contract at the Bernabeu until 2006 on Wednesday. His agent and uncle Juan Jose Helguera said he elected to stay at the 2000 Champions' League winners despite a 'better offer financially from Barcelona'.

The club, who will pay the Spain international £2.2 million a year, have increased the versatile midfielder's buy-out clause to £55 million.

"This agreement is very important because I still had three more years on my contract and I am the first player whose contract has been extended in these conditions," Helguera said.

"Signing this extension is the best thing that could happen to me with the new season just about to start."

"Both sides have made a huge effort to push this through. I have supported Madrid since I was a child and I couldn't understand why there were problems during the negotiations."

"This is just reward for my hard work and efforts but I am sure I can do better because this season I will be more focused and will dedicate myself exclusively to the titles I can bring to the club".

Helguera, who signed a two-year extension to a deal that was due to end in 2004, had been rumoured to be on the way out of the club earlier this month after demanding a pay rise – and Juan Jose Helguera admitted that Barcelona had come calling.

"Several months ago, the player received a better offer financially from Barcelona, but despite that he decided to stay because it has always been his dream to wear the Real shirt and he will now continue to do so – until 2006 at least," he said.

It was reported that with a midfield including Zinedine Zidane, Figo, Claude Makelele, Guti, Steve McManaman, Flavio Conceicao, Geremi and Savio, Helguera may have been surplus to requirements.

But Helguera is now looking forward to joining forces with Zidane. "Real did the right thing by signing him," he said. "I am sure we will understand each other on the field."

Real warned the 26-year-old last week that he would be allowed to leave if a club made a bid that met their asking price – but his ability to play in defence has swung him a new deal and made it more likely that some of the other midfielders will be departing.

Helguera was seen by many as an expensive gamble when John Toshack, impressed by the midfielder's season at Espanyol after returning to Spain from Roma, brought him to the Bernabeu.

The player made his mark in 1999-00 when he benefited from playing behind Fernando Redondo and Guti – and subsequently impressed for his country at Euro 2000.

He initially struggled to command a regular first-team place under Vicente Del Bosque at the start of the 2000-01 term and was linked with moves to Arsenal Manchester United, Barcelona and Bayern Munich. However, he had cemented a first-team spot by the middle of last season.

Other Real Madrid to have extended their contracts in the close season are midfielder Guti and club skipper Fernando Hierro.