Zidane extends Madrid stay

Real Madrid playmaker Zinedine Zidane has extended his contract with the Spanish champions until 2007.

The France international midfielder had suggested he would retire when his previous deal expired in 2005 but recently indicated a desire to sign a contract extension.

“Real Madrid communicate that its player Zinedine Zidane has prolonged his contract with the club until June 30, 2007,” announced the club on its website www.realmadrid.com tonight.

"Although the club had the unilateral option of renewing the contract by a year, finally both parties agreed to extend it by two seasons,'' ended the brief statement.

Zidane, 31, joined Real from Juventus in 2001 for a world-record fee of €69m.

Three times voted FIFA’s World Player of the Year, the former Cannes and Bordeaux player is one of the six “galacticos” at the Spanish club.

He has settled well in Spain with his family – his wife Veronica is Spanish.

He scored a brilliant volleyed winner when Real beat Bayer Leverkusen to win the 2002 Champions League final in Glasgow and helped Real win the Spanish title last season.

Zidane, the Marseille-born son of Algerian immigrants, recently said he would decide whether to continue playing for France after Euro 2004 when the European champions defend their title.

His two goals helped France win the 1998 World Cup on home soil and made him an icon in his homeland.