Faubert dazzled after joining Madrid

Julien Faubert admitted he was struggling to take in "everything that has happened" after he was presented as a Real Madrid CF player, following switch on his loan from West Ham United FC until the end of the season.

Hard to believe
The Frenchman will give coach Juande Ramos options on the right side of midfield and, should the 25-year-old impress over the coming months, could become a permanent fixture at Madrid, who have the option of buying him in June. "I'm really happy; this is a dream for me," Faubert explained. "If I'm being honest I thought all of this was a joke when I first heard about it. It was only later that I realised that it was for real and that Madrid wanted to bring me here. I think that when I start training it will finally hit home."

French flavour
Faubert started his career with AS Cannes before moving to FC Girondins de Bordeaux where he made 96 Ligue 1 appearances between 2004 and 2007. A €9m move to West Ham followed but the midfielder's appearances at the English club were limited in his first season by an achilles tendon injury. After putting pen to paper at the Santiago Bernabéu, Faubert will become the 14th Frenchman to play for the nine-time European Champion Clubs' Cup winners.