Mahamadou Diarra has pledged his future to Real Madrid.

The former Lyon star has been linked with a move to Italy, where Fiorentina and Inter Milan are keen, but he said: "I chose to come here, even if I have experienced some difficult times. But I am happy to be here. There is a structure here that allows you to improve and so I intend to stay until the end of my contract.

"I have never said I wanted to leave. I want to stay because this is the best club in the world."