Football: Radio hoax taps into Reyes' Real ambitions

THE ARSENAL striker Jose Antonio Reyes admitted on Spanish radio that he would like to join Real Madrid after falling victim to a prank in which a presenter pretended to be the Spanish club's sporting director, Emilio Butragueno.

The comments by Reyes come amid reports that the Spanish international wants to leave Arsenal just one year after signing from Seville. Reyes, 21, made the remarks during a hoax on the comedy segment "El Radiador", which is part of the El Tirachinas news show on the radio station Cadena Cope. The show is notorious in Spain for catching out football celebrities.

The show's Butragueno impersonator began by calling the player's agent, Jaime Rodriguez. When the Butragueno impersonator then spoke to Reyes, he told the player that Real's captain Raul had recommended him.

Reyes replied by saying that he was honoured that Raul would select him as a Real player and added: "It has been my dream since I was a child to play for Real Madrid."

Yesterday Reyes released a statement in which he said that he wanted to stay at Arsenal.