Middlesbrough winger Adam Johnson has been the subject of banter from teammates over the interest of Real Madrid.

The Times says news of purported interest from the Spanish club has been the source of banter within the dressing-room.

No official contact has been received by Real and Johnson does not employ an agent and has given no sanctioned interviews recently, but the Sunderland-born England Under-21 player was quoted extensively in the Spanish media yesterday.

"It is a great honour that Madrid have set their sights on me and I feel very flattered," he was reported as saying. "Last summer there was a lot of talk about me joining Tottenham and I know that Juande sent various scouts to see me in different games last season."