MADRID PULL OUT OF DIARRA RACE

Last updated : 10 May 2006 By Editor

So says Tony Little in the Sun:

Ferguson's hopes of landing Mahamadou Diarra have been boosted with Real Madrid pulling out of the race for the Lyon star.

Mali midfielder Diarra, 24, tops Manchester United boss Ferguson's hitlist as he searches for the man to fill the gap left by Roy Keane.

But Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas has attempted to warn off potential buyers by slapping a £25million price tag on Diarra.

The player still has three years left on his contract with the French champions, but Spanish giants Real have now cleared the way for Ferguson to tempt Lyon boss Gerard Houllier with a bid. Real director of football Benito Floro said: “Diarra is a good footballer, but he is not of the level of Sergio Ramos, nor that of Javi Garcia.”