The Germany international defender is moving to Real on a Bosman from Borussia Dortmund and said: "It's a surprise to me that Real Madrid are signing a player who is coming out of contract. Usually they don't wait around and bid big money for players that are contracted to other clubs. I'm very fortunate.

"I signed the contract with Real a long time ago. It was done in secret at a restaurant in Berlin. We did it in a back room, my agent and I waited for the fax to arrive and we signed it there and then."

Asked about who he would be working for next season - Fabio Capello or Bernd Schuster - Metzelder played it coolly: "They're both the same. Capello is very qualified and experienced, while Schuster was a great player and has begun his coaching career with great success."