Former Arsenal and Liverpool winger Jermaine Pennant has recalled coming close to signing for Real Madrid.

Pennant says a free transfer was discussed in 2009.

He told talkSPORT: “I was going to sign a pre-contract with Real Madrid in the January. I think the manager at the time was the ex-Spurs manager, Juande Ramos.

“My agent got the call saying Real Madrid need a right midfielder, and straight away I was like 'what?, really?' I was like 'I am free, I will do that', even if it meant that I had to sit on the bench.

“That was all okay, they spoke with the president, but it went above (Juande) Ramos' head, he had no idea about it. Once it got to finalising, he was upset that they had gone above him and not told him, obviously doing the deal behind his back.

“So, he said he was not happy with this, and did not want this sanctioned, and then it did not materialise."