The former Hamburg midfielder declared: "It is all very exciting for me, especially since part of my family is Spanish. The move was completed on Sunday night and I celebrated it with my wife and a bottle of champagne.

"It is a dream for me and my entire family.

"Two weeks after the Euros, Real Madrid told Soren Lerby (his representative) that they were very interested. The leaders of Hamburg told me that I could leave next season, but left the door open for before then, and this has happened.

"The ideal position for me is behind the front two. But also I can play on the left or right, there are several options."

He added: "I haven't managed to talk to (Bernd) Schuster yet. We've shaken hands, but that's all. But I have good feelings about working with him."