Zenit´s Arshavin ´keen on Madrid move´

Zenit St Petersburg star Andrei Arshavin said he would love to join Real Madrid, which is reportedly keen to sign him, if his club will let him go.

“How could I not want to go to Real Madrid, it's a great team, one of the best,” Arshavin told the AS sports newspaper published on Wednesday.

“The only thing that I have said is that I want to leave Zenit next year at all costs” and “I think by the start of 2009 I will definitely be with another team.

“I have not come out in favour of another club. The most important thing now is not whether Real Madrid wants me or not, but rather if Zenit will let me leave,” said the striker, one of the revelations of Euro 2008.

AS said on Tuesday that Real want to sign the Russian on a six-month loan from January.

The Spanish champions would then negotiate the purchase of the striker with Zenit, based on his performance during those six months, it said.

The 27-year-old was linked with a move to English Premier League side Tottenham last summer, but finally remained at Zenit after the Russian club refused to budge on its 30 million euro asking price.

Real is on the lookout for new strikers after Brazil's Robinho left for Manchester City in September and Dutchman Ruud van Nistelrooy suffered a knee injury which could see him out of action for several weeks.

Real is currently fourth in the Primera Liga, two points behind league leaders Barcelona, with its attack relying largely on the good form of Argentine Gonzalo Higuain.

In the Champions League, Real has suffered two defeats against Juventus, and must beat Zenit next month to be sure of qualifying for the last eight.

Real would be unable to play Arshavin in the Champions League as he has already turned out for Zenit in the competition this season, AS said.