Metzelder to join Real Madrid

Borussia Dortmund's German international defender Christoph Metzelder will join Real Madrid on a four-year contract at the end of the season, a newspaper reported on Thursday.

The 26-year-old Metzelder went to Madrid on Tuesday to have a medical and finalise contract details, Bild newspaper continued, adding he would be on an annual salary of four million euros. No transfer fee was given.

Metzelder, capped 28 times by his country and part of Germany's World Cup squad, had reportedly also been in contact with Italian league leaders Inter Milan.

Later on Thursday, Real technical director Franco Baldini was giving little away, telling German pay TV station Premiere: "We have not signed a contract with Metzelder."

He said that Real were content to carry on monitoring the player.