Real Madrid striker Raul de Tomas insists he wasn't forced out.

De Tomas is currently on-loan with Rayo Vallecano this season - and reveals Real coach Julen Lopetegui wanted him to stay.

"It was my decision, and in the end I consider myself a winner," he said.

"Lopetegui wanted me to stay, he let me know, but I wanted to go because I knew that on the Madrid bench I'd play little. I wanted to grow in competition, not in the stands, so I decided to leave.

"I have always favored competition, so I decided to go to Rayo Vallecano."