Portsmouth midfielder Lauren has backed teammate Lassana Diarra's move to Real Madrid.

"He reminds me a lot of Makelele. For his physique, for the way he moves on the field and for his position, because he steals a lot of possession in the middle of the pitch," said Lauren, who played for Levante and Real Mallorca in Spain before moving to England with Arsenal in 2002.

"But there is a big difference between them, and that is that Lassana has also got a great long pass. As well as that, he takes up good positions in attack. He is a very complete footballer. Madrid will get themselves an ace."

Regarding comparisons to Mali international Mahamadou Diarra, the man whose loss Madrid are looking to fill, Lauren added in AS: "They are totally different. Lassana, for me and with all due respect, is much more complete. Technically he is very good. The Diarra of Madrid is more defensive."