Jermaine Pennant has revealed how he almost joined Real Madrid from Liverpool.

The winger instead joined Portsmouth for the remainder for the 2008-09 season.

"When I was at Liverpool, Real Madrid came to sign me in my last year of contract. (agent) Sky Andrew held negotiations with the president and he gave the green light to the agreement for about €4 million (£3m/$4m)," Pennant told El Periodico de Aragon.

"But Juande Ramos was not aware of that agreement. So when he found out he decided to knock the deal down. I went from Madrid to Portsmouth. A big change."