Diarra all set for big money move to Real Madrid

LASSANA DIARRA is poised to complete his third high-profile transfer in the space of 18 months, after Portsmouth confirmed they had accepted an "exceptional" offer worth €22 million from Real Madrid.

The 23-year-old France midfielder, who moved from Chelsea to Arsenal in the summer of 2007 and then joined Portsmouth in January, has made no secret of his desire to establish himself at one of Europe's biggest clubs.

"The people at Portsmouth know that I will not spend my life at the club," he said upon finalising his €6 million move to Fratton Park. "I was able to add a clause to my contract. If I shine, if a really big club wants me, I already know that everything will go well. I don't want any more battles."

Manchester City, backed by the billions of their Arab owners, had made Diarra a priority target in January but Real hold greater appeal for the player who will replace Mahamadou Diarra, a long-term injury casualty, in defensive midfield.

"When you talk about Real Madrid, the other teams are no longer important, all the others take second place," Lassana Diarra told the Spanish newspaper Marca. "It would be a dream to play for such a large club."

For City, whose interest forced Real to raise their initial offer of €10 million to the €22 million mark, it is perhaps another lesson that their mega riches cannot buy everything.

Portsmouth confirmed that Diarra, who has not played since the middle of last month because of an ankle injury and is unlikely to do so again for them, had been given permission to talk with Real.

"We have always said that we would only allow our players to leave if we received an exceptional bid," said a club spokesman. "We could not stand in the way of a move such as this for Lassana. It shows how far the club has come under the ownership of Alexandre Gaydamak when Real Madrid come in for one of our players. Should the deal be completed, the club has already identified possible replacements."

Portsmouth are deep in debt and have confirmed they are up for sale. The fee from Diarra's sale will help to ease their financial worries but the sale might disappoint Tony Adams, the manager, who said when he took over from Harry Redknapp in late October that he had assurances his top players would not be sold from under him.

Juande Ramos, the former Spurs manager who has taken over at Real, had been in the market for Lassana Diarra during his time at White Hart Lane. Tottenham were among the clubs hoping to sign Diarra next month. Redknapp, meanwhile, expressed his disappointment that Diarra was leaving the Premier League.

"I think every day about the team I would love to have here, and the players I would love to have," he said. "I do know the players I'd like to have here. Maybe it's only dreaming. One's just gone to Real Madrid who I'd love to have signed."

Meanwhile, Aiden McGeady has not necessarily burned his bridges with Celtic manager Gordon Strachan, according to the player's agent. The Republic of Ireland midfielder was on Tuesday suspended for a fortnight and fined two weeks' wages following a dressing-room bust-up with Strachan after Saturday's 1-1 Scottish Premier League draw with Hearts.

McGeady reportedly aimed some stinging personal remarks at Strachan and, following the severity of the punishment, it appeared that his days at Celtic, whom he joined as a schoolboy, were numbered.

It is not the first time McGeady and Strachan have reportedly clashed, with rumours of a confrontation following the 4-2 home defeat to Rangers at the beginning of the season.

McGeady's agent, David Holbrook, quickly moved to say the player would be contesting yesterday's punishment and said he is still investigating the appeals procedure. However, Holbrook would not rule out McGeady continuing his career at Parkhead.

"I don't know if you can say there is no chance of a reconciliation," he said. "I presume Celtic are acting as they are entitled to do and we are taking action as we are entitled to do."