Heinze agrees Real Madrid move

Manchester United defender Gabriel Heinze has agreed to join Real Madrid.

A statement on the Real Madrid website confirmed the two clubs had agreed a fee and Heinze will sign a four-year contract with the Spanish champions.

The Argentine had his heart set on a move to Liverpool and took his case to a Premier League tribunal after United refused to sell him to their rivals.

But after a League panel ruled against Heinze, the 29-year-old agreed to join Real for a reported �8m fee.

The move brings to an end Heinze's three-season stay at Old Trafford.

The defender proved a big hit with United fans when he arrived but after recovering from a serious knee injury at the start of the 2005/6 season, he found his first-team place occupied by Patrice Evra.

Liverpool tabled a bid of more than �6.8m in the belief United would be forced to sell after quoting that figure in a letter to Heinze's agent.

However, United refused to let Heinze join their bitter rivals and though he considered an appeal against the Premier League's ruling, Heinze instead opted for a move to Spain.

Source: BBC Sport