"It has been complicated. I am convinced my move to Liverpool would have worked out and I believe I had a case and needed to defend my rights," Heinze told the Daily Mail.

"I am grateful for what Rafa Benitez said and tried to do.

Heinze has been trying to force a move to Anfield over the past few weeks but the Premier League blocked him such a move.

Manchester United allowed him to leave abroad and especially not to one of its title rivals.

"I didn't want more controversy with Sir Alex Ferguson. It is logical now for me to make this jump.”

"I always said I wanted to leave for one of the big clubs in Europe and Real are one of those."