Real Madrid sports chief Miguel Pardeza insist they dropped their pursuit of Bayern Munich star Franck Ribery well before this week's transfer deadline.

He said: "Real forgot about Ribery a long time ago.

"True, we tried for him, but we also were determined not to fall out publicly with Bayern. In such a situation, the only thing Real Madrid could do was ask about the player's availability and be respectful to the directors at Bayern."