Sacked Real Madrid coach Manuel Pellegrini has revealed Dutch pair Wesley Sneijder and Arjen Robben were sold against his will. Former Real midfielders Sneijder and Robben both reached the Champions League final in Madrid with Inter Milan and Bayern Munich respectively.

"I wanted Sneijder and Robben to stay but I never had a conversation at Real Madrid about who I preferred, if it was Cristiano or Kaka and Sneijder and Robben," said Pellegrini.

"He (Real president Florentino Perez) decided to sell [Robben and Sneijder], and I think that was wrong. I never had a confrontation with the president. The coach should have had a more important voice in what the team needs. At that point I felt small."