Sampdoria coach Andrea Pirlo admits he had signed a contract with Real Madrid amid the Calciopoli scandal.

Pirlo says he was concerned AC Milan would be relegated and so held talks with Real in 2006.

He recalled: "After 'Calciopoli', we had just won the World Cup and we didn't know how Italian football would resume.

"I had already signed the contract with Real Madrid, but then Milan remained in Serie A and the Champions League.

"So then I signed with the Rossoneri."