Diarra completes Madrid move

Madrid:

Mali international Mahamadou Diarra completed his 33.5 million dollar transfer from five-time defending French league champion Lyon to Real Madrid on Tuesday, passing a routine medical exam and signing a five-year contract. "I'm very excited. It's a dream for me to come and play for Madrid," Diarra said at his presentation to the media at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. "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." The 25-year-old midfielder, who has yet to be given a shirt number, is Madrid's fourth acquisition since Ramon Calderon was declared the winner of the club's presidential election on July 3. The Spanish club has spent a reported 81.9 million dollars on newcomers, which also include Juventus' Fabio Cannavaro and Emerson, and Manchester United's Ruud van Nistelrooy. (AP)