Arshavin keen on Real switch

Russian schemer sets sights on Spain

By Lucas Brown   Last updated: 12th November 2008

andrei arshavin russia

Arshavin: Seeking Zenit exit

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Andrei Arshavin has admitted that a New Year move to Real Madrid would appeal to him.

The Russia international has once again reiterated his desire to leave Zenit St Petersburg when the transfer window re-opens in January, with a host of clubs believed to be tracking his availability.

Premier League outfit Tottenham were among a host of clubs heavily linked with the talented playmaker over the summer, although their interest appears to have cooled.

Primera Liga champions Real were also among those to express interest during the close-season, and remain keen on the highly-regarded 27-year-old.

Arshavin remains unsure as to where his future may lie, but admits he would welcome the opportunity to accept a new challenge in the Spanish capital.

Rumour

"The truth is I do not want to speak about that, it is only a rumour and I cannot say a lot more," he told AS.

"How could I not want to go to Madrid? The only thing that I have said is that I want to leave Zenit in the New Year.

"But I have not come out and said I prefer any particular team. Now the most important thing is not if Madrid want me, but whether Zenit will let me leave.

"Of course I like Madrid, they are a great club, one of the best."

Interested

Arshavin believes he has achieved all he can at Zenit and is desperate to test himself in one of Europe's top divisions.

While the Primera Liga appears to represent his most likely destination, the Russian ace admits a switch to England is not out of the question.

"It (the Primera Liga) is the league that I have followed the most, but the Premier League also interests me a lot as that is another league I like. As I have said before, any of the big European leagues would be good for me," he added.

"It is difficult when you want one thing and then something else happens instead, but there have been a lot of people telling me that will change. So I now believe that at the start of 2009 I will move to a new team.

"I feel that I have repaid everything that I owed to Zenit and that I cannot give any more to the team. The time has come for me to test myself somewhere else."