Sami Khedira 'confirms Real Madrid exit'

The Germany international's contract is due to expire in June and in recent weeks it has become apparent that he will probably not sign an extension at the Bernabeu.

The World Cup winner, who has been at Madrid since leaving Stuttgart in 2010, has been linked with a host of top European clubs and was the subject of intense media speculation during last summer, with media suggesting that a switch to Arsenal was on the horizon.

Last week the 27-year-old all but confirmed that he would be playing his football elsewhere next season.

“Am I open to [joining] Schalke? I’m open to many teams,” he said after Madrid’s 4-3 defeat to Schalke in the Champions League.

And now it appears that the midfielder has indeed confirmed he will leave Madrid at the end of the current Liga campaign.

According to sports magazine Kicker, Khedira informed manager Carlo Ancelotti of his departure last week.

“This is not a decision against Real, but I want to put a new charm in my career and develop myself," Khedira said.

"There is no agreement to nobody and absolutely no tendency."