"I can confirm that there was the possibility to leave to join Chelsea. However I felt it would be better for me to stay in Madrid," he told Portuguese daily newspaper Correio da Manha.

Arguably the world's most famous left back, the speedy Brazilian joined Real in 1996 from Italian side Inter Milan and his contract with Real Madrid runs to 2007.

The 31-year-old has publicly complained in the past over Real's refusal to put him on the same wages as top-earners Raul, Luis Figo, Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo and David Beckham who all pick up six million euros free of tax a year.

Last month Spanish media reported that Roberto Carlos, who is strongly linked with a move to Premiership leaders Chelsea next summer, had demanded a transfer after Real Madrid dropped him from the team's 3-2 league win over Racing Santander on December 18.

"I don't know where they got that story from. I never said I wanted to leave, I feel very good at Madrid. I am not leaving unless management and the coach want me to," he said.