Inter defender Maicon insists he wants to remain at the San Siro despite expressing his desire to move to Real Madrid just two days ago.

The highly-rated 28-year-old has been heavily linked with a move to the Spanish capital in the wake of Jose Mourinho's switch from Inter to the Bernabeu.

And he was quoted in Spanish media saying he would love to play for Madrid.

However, Maicon is adamant his comments have been misconstrued.

"People understood it very badly," the Brazil international said. "I'm only going to say it once: I never said I wanted to go to Real Madrid.

"I have a contract with Inter until 2014, I am very happy and the fans can be calm because I'm not going to leave, unless the president wants to send me away.

"I only said that, if I had to leave, the club where I would want to go to would be Real Madrid. But I never said I wanted to leave."

Maicon has played over 150 games for Inter in four seasons with the Nerazzurri.

Earlier this week he reportedly told Spanish daily AS: "What I want is to play at Madrid and for me it would be an honour to be able to do that because I've already said it would be a great opportunity in my career."

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