Diarra fires Real Lyon warning
Mahamadou Diarra has demanded Lyon allow his departure to Real Madrid.
Manchester United target Mahamadou Diarra has made his intentions clear as to where he will be playing his football next season.The sought-after 25-year-old midfielder has been a long-term target of Sir Alex Ferguson but it is Real Madrid who are very much the subject of his affections.
Diarra has stated his utmost desire to move to the Bernabeu, urging his current paymasters to lower their demands as he strives for a switch to the Spanish capital.
French champions Lyon are currently holding out for ‚é¼35 million (£23.7 million) but with Real having already been busy in the transfer market an accord is far from being struck.
"I can't wait anymore,'' he told L'Equipe. "On Monday, Real Madrid told Lyon they wanted a meeting to discuss my transfer.
"The result is Lyon turned a deaf ear. Then, they said if Real want a rendezvous, there is just one solution, come with a ‚é¼35 million cheque.
"Do you realise, ‚é¼35 million!?
"I finally had a phone call with chairman Jean-Michel Aulas. I told him my desire to join Real. Obviously he didn't hear me.
"A club like Real offers you to wear his shirt; it happens just once in a career.
"I can't stand the idea that they refuse me that opportunity in demanding ‚é¼35 million just to talk around a table."
Diarra claims that he will do everything in his power to agitate a move, even going as far as to suggest he would entertain the thought of going AWOL in his homeland Mali.
"I am not Michael Essien, I won't be in a sulk day after day.
"At the moment, I am with Malian team, and I should be back at Lyon on Thursday.
"If at that time the situation has not evolved, I will tell them what I am thinking about all that.
"I am keen to do anything, not resuming training-sessions with Lyon or even leaving for Mali if the club doesn't negotiate with Real.
"It is very clear in my mind, I want to leave for Real.
"What annoys me the most, is the fact l'OL tries to gain time, even for a meeting with Real. That is really a lack of respect towards the player and such a club."
Meanwhile, reports emanating from the French press have linked Lyon with a move for Liverpool striker Florent Sinama-Pongolle.
The French hit-man looks to be on his way out of Anfield but had previously been strongly linked with a switch to Spain, with Osasuna his primary suitor.
However, Liverpool are keen to offload the player on a permanent basis, which would suit Lyon, while Osasuna are more interested in an initial loan deal.
