Diarra: City offered me more

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Diarra, however, opted to move to Spain and passed a medical on Monday en route to completing his move from Portsmouth for a reported £20million fee.

He told L'Equipe: "Were Manchester City keen to sign me? Yes, indeed. On a financial level, I would have earned a lot more."

He added: "But Real are very attractive. I believe I have earned respect. I was in England for five years and learnt a lot of things there.

"I became very attached to the Premier League. You can't leave it that easily. But Real came, and I was their priority. That makes you think. It is an honour."