Zidane slams Real reports

Juventus star Zinedine Zidane has moved to categorically deny claims made in a Spanish newspaper linking him with a move to Real Madrid.

Reports in yesterday's Spanish daily Marca quoted Zizou as saying that he would be interested in a switch to the Bernabeu only if the two clubs could agree on a deal.

However, the French World Cup and Euro 2000 winner has now denied any knowledge of the quotes attributed to him and having met the reporter who wrote the article.

He fumed: "I've read in Tuesday's issue of the Spanish daily Marca the article of a journalist who claims to have talked with me and reported some statements that I supposedly gave him."

"I firmly deny that I've met this journalist or that I have ever said the things he reported. In order to confirm the truth of their words, the Spanish newspaper Marca has also published a picture of me in our old offices in Piazza Crimea in Turin."

"However everybody knows that Juve have moved their offices over a year ago, so that picture is at least 12 months old and it cannot be used to back up this report."