Diarra completes Real move

Mahamadou Diarra expressed his excitement after finalising his move to Real Madrid.

Mahamadou Diarra has expressed his excitement after completing his move to Real Madrid from Lyon.

The Mali international has signed a five-year contract with the Spanish giants and was unveiled on Tuesday evening after passing a medical.

Real have agreed to pay ‚é¼26 million (£17.6 million) to the French champions for the midfielder, who was also tracked by Manchester United.

But he had long held a desire to move to the Santiago Bernabeu and is delighted to have linked up with Fabio Capello's side.

"I'm very excited," said Diarra. "It's a dream for me to come and play for Madrid.

"I'm grateful for everybody's effort during the days of the negotiations and now it's my turn to make an effort on the field."

Meanwhile, the 25-year-old revealed his wish to avoid having to play Lyon in this season's UEFA Champions League.

Diarra told Lyon's official website: "First of all, I will miss the team. Every season we have done great things.

"I have met with fantastic people here and I will miss them a lot. I have spent four superb years here.

"I really thank the fans, who have always encouraged me, even in the hard moments.

"But that is the law of football, that is destiny, and my heart will always remain with Olympique Lyonnais.

"I will be Lyon's first fan in Spain and I will watch every match, but playing against them in the Champions League would be too heartbreaking."