'Real Madrid wanted to sign me' - Jermaine Pennant

Jermaine Pennant has claimed he was in talks to sign for Real Madrid from Liverpool, but saw his chances of playing at the Bernabeu come to an abrupt end when Juande Ramos pulled the plug.

It was 2009 and Pennant was out of favour with Liverpool at Anfield, however then 'Los Blancos' manager Juande Ramos reportedly pulled the plug. 

Ramos, who was manager at the Bernabeu, insisted he had no use for Pennant and Real Madrid pulled the plug. 

"Real Madrid wanted to sign me when Juande Ramos, was in charge there. The board wanted to do the deal as they wanted a right-winger" he told 'FourFourTwo'.

"On transfer deadline day I got a call from my agent, saying, 'You could be going to Madrid – keep your phone on. 

"But the board had gone over the manager's head, so he started to get upset, and to placate him they pulled the plug on the deal. The club wanted me; the manager didn't.'