Real Madrid exile was toughest part of my career: Khedira

Sami Khedira said he was frozen out of Real Madrid towards the end of his career

Madrid, June 13 (IANS) German midfielder Sami Khedira described his last few months at Spanish football club Real Madrid as the most difficult spell of his career. He also said that manager Roberto Di Matteo's sacking saw him lose interest in a potential move to Bundesliga club FC Schalke.

He will move to Italian champions Juventus at the end of the month when his Madrid contract expires after falling out of favour at the Spanish club last season.

"I am very happy this is now fixed and I can now prepare myself for my new club. The last few months were perhaps the most difficult of my career because I could not show that I can still do it in Madrid," Khedira was quoted as saying by goal.com on Saturday.

Asked about the interest from Schalke, Khedira said, "I had good talks with Schalke but with the changes, especially the dismissal of Roberto Di Matteo, it was no longer as I had imagined. I think Juve suits me."

The 28-year-old made just 11 appearances in La Liga during coach Carlo Ancelotti's tenure last year. Ancelotti was sacked after a poor season across all competitions with Spaniard Rafael Benitez taking over.