Real rubbish Nesta rumours

Real have reiterated the recent declaration by general manager Emilio Butragueño that they have no plans to sign Lazio defender Alessandro Nesta.

The highly-rated Italian stopper has been linked with a summer move to the Bernabeu but sporting manager Jorge Valdano claims that the rumours doing the rounds are nonsense, and that the Merengues have the perfect replacement for the ageing Fernando Hierro in young revelation Francisco Pavón.

Valdano said: "All of this about Nesta joining Real is a rumour that started in Italy we aren't giving any authenticity to it at all. A while ago, it may have been more believable but now that Pavón is making a name for himself any such transfer can wait. If Pavón continues as he has been doing then we'll have the problem solved."

Real could find themselves with holes in the defence now that 33-year-old skipper Hierro is nearing the end of his playing days, and the ongoing contractual saga surrounding Aitor Karanka could see the Basque defender quitting the Bernabeu at the end of the season.