Veteran Italian defender Fabio Cannavaro has played down talk of him leaving Real Madrid by insisting that he hopes to pen a new contract at the Bernabeu.

The 35-year-old's current deal runs out next summer, but Cannavaro is hopeful of being able to extend his stay in Spain.

He told AS: "The first thing I am going to do is talk with Madrid, because I have already said many times that staying here is my first choice.

"At the moment I don't want to talk about AC Milan nor about any other club.

"Recently it hasn't been a good time to talk about renewing. Everyone has to know that first comes the team and then personnel.

"When January comes we'll talk with Madrid with more intensity. I'm not in a rush because I know that the club and my team-mates want me.

"I think that I will stay at Madrid, but it's clear that anything can happen in football."