Desailly's Real regret

Desailly admits he received an offer to move to Santiago Bernabeu during the 1996/97 campaign but opted to remain in Serie A.

However, the Chelsea captain looks back on the opportunity ruefully, wondering whether he made the right decision.

"During the 1996/97 season, Real Madrid contacted me," Desailly told Le Parisien.

"I was pretentious towards them because I was already playing at a great club in Milan.

"Real really wanted me but I didn't want to hear anything. Then, we had two bad seasons with Milan and today, I regret not studying the question more seriously."

With Desailly preparing to lead his nation's defence of the World Cup this summer, the French ace has cast his thoughts towards the Far East and believes Italy will pose the biggest threat to their crown.

"The adversary I fear most is Italy. England, too, because of their individualities but they don't have our collective.

"About Argentina, I don't know. They were very strong in 1998 but we were a little disappointed. Now, I don't know how they play."

The French warhorse is also concerned that as the build-up to the competition intensifies, there is more risk that key players will be targeted at club level, in an attempt to curtail their international involvement.

He added: "Me, I would never have any idea to tackle an English international or whatever.

"The tackle from behind by the Spaniard Juanmi on Zidane, some days ago, it is a little strange.

"It is true that we feel some aggressiveness against us on the pitch. I crossed my fingers to not have any more injury."