Real's Diarra set to join Anzhi

Madrid, Sep 1 (IANS/RIA Novosti): Real Madrid have agreed to sell French midfielder Lassana Diarra to Russia’s big-spending side Anzhi Makhachkala, the Spanish champions have said.

“Real Madrid and FC Anzhi have reached an agreement, ahead of the medical examination, on the transfer of the player Lassana Diarra to the Russian club,” said Real in a website statement late Friday.

The value of transfer was not mentioned. Diarra had a year left to run on his Real deal.

Diarra, 27, switched to Real in 2008 from Portsmouth, but failed to become a regular starter, making 117 appearances and scoring four goals since then.

A French international since 2007, he has made 28 appearances but is yet to score a goal for the national team. Injury kept him out of Euro 2012.

Anzhi qualified for the group stage of the Europa League for the first time Thursday with an emphatic 5-0 away win over Dutch outfit AZ Alkmaar, prevailing 6-0 on aggregate.

The competition’s group stage draw has pitted Anzhi with English side Liverpool, Italians Udinese and Young Boys of Switzerland.