FIGO CLAIMS BALON D'OR

LUIS FIGO has been confirmed as this year's winner of the Balon D'Or and, after picking up his award, spoke of his world record £38 million defection from Barcelona to Real Madrid, claiming that the Catalan giants did not try to keep him.

The Real star, who became the world's most expensive player when his Madrid Club bought out his contract from fierce rivals Barca, pipped Fifa's World Player of the Year Zinedine Zidane to the prestigious award - which is awarded by France Football annually.

The final result was a close run thing with the Portuguese star picking up 197 votes - just 18 more than Juventus star Zidane. Milan's Ukrainian striker Andrei Shevchenko was a distant third with a still highly respectable 86 votes

Arsenal's Thierry Henry was the highest placed Premiership star, picking up forth place with a 57 vote share, ahead of both Rivaldo (39 votes) and Alessandro Nesta (37).

"I am hugely content and happy," Figo admitted after picking up the award. "It is truly an honour to be recognised for my work this season by my whole profession.

"I dedicate the award to my wife, my daughter and my family - who have always been at my side supporting me.

"I also want to dedicate it to Real Madrid and the Portuguese selectors, because without their help none of this would be possible."

Figo also spoke of his move from Barca to Real, saying: "The main reason is that I received a proposition that offered me better conditions than the one I had at Barcelona."

The Portugal star, however, implied that he would have liked to have found a solution to keep him at Camp Nou, adding: "I only wished for one thing, to talk with my officials (at Barca) and to find an agreement.

"But, they did not tell me anything, they never wanted to start any negotiations so I logically chose another solution."