Real Madrid insist their association with Chinese youth academy Soxna is above board.

Real have released an official statement to yesterday's story in AS uncovering their relationship with Chinese academies:

"Following the reports published today by the newspaper Diario AS concerning the schools that Soxna and Evergrande have in Spain, Real Madrid C. F. wish to state the following:

"1. Any football schools that Soxna and Evergrande have in Spain were created outwith the activities of Real Madrid.

"2. Real Madrid were invited to participate in this project, and the club's response was firm and unequivocal. In a letter sent to Evergrande, dated 20 May 2014, the Real Madrid Foundation said:

'In response to the proposal made by Evergrande to create a branch of the Guangzhou school in Madrid through the creation of an academy linking the brands Evergrande and the Real Madrid Foundation, our reply must unfortunately be negative. This is because the creation of an academy to bring non-resident Chinese children to Spain to link them to clubs' youth academy activities is in conflict with FIFA regulations. If other Chinese companies are carrying out a similar activity with Spanish clubs, this could lead to FIFA sanctions being applied to these clubs. Furthermore, the proposal that you have made to us not only places Real Madrid at risk of sanctions, but also Guangzhou Evergrande'.

"3. All Real Madrid activities with Soxna and Evergrande are carried out exclusively in the territory of China, with the objective of helping both to promote football and the education of children through our social sports schools in China.

"4. The club regrets this report that attempts to link Real Madrid to the schools that Soxna and Evergrande have in Spain, and is absolutely false.

"5. Real Madrid wish to reiterate once again the club's total commitment to the defence and protection of minors and to the strict adherence to FIFA regulations in this regard."