Karanka contract talks on hold

Aitor Karanka's hopes of reaching a new deal with Real lay in tatters on Tuesday after talks to extend the defender's contract hit rocky ground.

Karanka's agent Miguel Santos met with Real's Sports Manager Jorge Valdano on Monday in an attempt to secure a two-year extension to the player's existing deal which is due to expire next June. But Santos left the Bernabeu offices later on in the day, with Karanka's future still up in the air.

"We haven't reached an agreement because at the moment, Real's demands are far from those of the player. We have reached a stalemate and have no plans to meet with the club in the immediate future," Santos told reporters on Tuesday.

Following the summer renewals by Fernando Hierro, Ivan Helguera, Iker Casillas and Fernando Morientes, Karanka is the only Real Madrid player not to have accepted the club's new performance-related pay scheme.