Real Madrid want Owen to stay

Real Madrid are hoping unsettled England striker Michael Owen will stay at the club, director of football Arrigo Sacchi said.

"I hope he remains here and if he does he will have the respect of the whole club because he is a magnificent lad," the former AC Milan and Italy coach told sports daily AS on Wednesday.

Owen has admitted speaking to three or four English Premier League sides about a possible move following Real's decision to sign Brazilian forwards Robinho and Julio Baptista.

Real have said that Newcastle United and another English club have shown "a serious interest in the player".

Sacchi said the club did not plan to sign any more players during the close season and expressed his confidence in English defender Jonathan Woodgate.

Woodgate is in the final stages of recovery from a thigh injury that has kept him on the sidelines since joining a year ago.

"We have got one of the best defenders I have ever seen in Jonathan Woodgate. We have to be patient with him, but he is working very hard and we have great faith in him. We know we can count on him.

"Woodgate will be our defensive signing for this season and there won't be any more. He's been unlucky but now everything is getting back to normal," Sacchi said.

Sacchi said the club are delighted that French midfielder Zinedine Zidane had decided to come out of international retirement.

"You can see that Zidane is a new player," he said. "The fact that he has decided to play for the national side again is a sign that he has regained his enthusiasm for the game ... He will have a great season."