Real reject Munitis heads for Deportivo

Former Spanish international Pedro Munitis has been released by Real Madrid and signed for Deportivo Coruna on Thursday.

"Munitis is now the author of his own destiny," Real Madrid sporting director Jorge Valdano told the club's website.

"We are very happy about it because we will save his salary for next season."

Deportivo said that Munitis had passed a medical on Thursday morning and would be presented to the media later on in the day.

Munitis joined Real from Racing Santander in 2000 for $10 million but returned to his old club last season on loan.

New Real coach Carlos Queiroz made it clear that the speedy 28-year-old winger did not feature in his plans, while the player said he wanted more first-team games.

Valdano also told the Real website that he wanted to offload more fringe players before the European-wide transfer deadline expired at the end of the week.

"Before Saturday there will be more developments because we are trying to ensure that only those players who have a chance of playing are going to remain in the squad," he said.

Real want to offload former England midfielder Steve McManaman and have not ruled out selling Argentine midfielder Santiago Solari and centre forward Fernando Morientes.

The Spanish media have also reported that the club may be prepared to sell midfielder Claude Makelele to Chelsea if the premier league club increases its bid of 10 million euros ($10.86 million) for the French international.