Former Real Madrid coach Bernd Schuster admits he tried to sign Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas while in charge.

Schuster made the admission in his new book, Amor a primera la vista, revealing he wanted Real to go on a buying spree in his second season in charge.

"I put on the table the names of (Dani) Alves (Sevilla), (David) Villa (Valencia) and Fàbregas (Arsenal), even when I saw that nothing was going on I talked about Luis Fabiano," he wrote.

Schuster also revealed: "We talked to (Andres) Iniesta, who had a buyout clause at Barcelona of 50 million euros, but the idea was discarded."

The German also hailed former Real and Manchester United fitness coach Valter di Salvo.

"It was nice to work with him, he's the best physical trainer I've ever had. "