Portsmouth Football Club News

• Nickname:Pompey
• Founded:1898
• Manager:Michael Appleton

• Ground:Fratton Park
• Capacity:19,179

Diarra passes Real medical

22 Dec 2008 - 12:01:18

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France midfielder Lassana Diarra has passed a medical and is set to complete his big-money move to Real Madrid from Portsmouth by signing a five-year contract.

The 23-year-old had also been the subject of interest from Manchester City, but has opted to head to the Bernabeu, in a deal worth in the region of 20million euros.

Real's chief of medical staff, Carlos Diez, confirmed: "The player's health is exceptional. He is perfectly fit to play.

"He is very excited and would already be working if it weren't for the Christmas break."

Diarra only joined Pompey in January and scored three times in 31 appearances for the South Coast club, helping them win the FA Cup Final in May.

A Pompey spokesman recently told the club's official website: "We've always said that we would only allow our players to leave if we received an exceptional bid.

"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."