If he did not know it already, Steve McManaman discovered there was no room for sentiment in football yesterday when Real Madrid effectively declared him surplus to requirements.

Little more than two months after scoring in a man-of-the-match contribution to their European Cup final victory over Valencia and only 14 months after signing from Liverpool, the England midfielder has been told in no uncertain terms he no longer figures in their first-team plans.

"I have spoken to Steve about the situation and told him he has little chance of playing this year," said Real coach Vicente del Bosque.

McManaman responded by reiterating his desire to remain at the Bernabeu, having turned down a chance to return to the Premiership with Middlesbrough, rather than Liverpool, next season.

"I've spoken to the coach and (technical director) Jose Martinez Pirri and they have told me that, in sporting terms, this year is going to be very hard for me.

"I told them I wanted to stay and they said `Fine, but it's going to be a battle for your place in the side'. I said `No problem'. I'm willing to work hard and I want to be successful here."

"I want to fight for my place in the team and push for my chances of playing. I have never had things easy but I have always ended up playing and now I hope the same thing happens again.

"I learned a lot in my first season here and I want to continue learning - to become a better player and a better person."

Del Bosque sees Luis Figo as his automatic choice on the right of midfield following his world record £37 million sterling transfer from Barcelona while two other new signings, Claude Makelele and Flavio Conceicao, are expected to contest the central midfield position vacated by Fernando Redondo.

McManaman has three years remaining on his contract and the Spanish sports daily Marca, which noted that the midfielder had reverted to expressing himself in English, is reporting that Real want to sell him as part of an effort to reduce their wage bill.

McManaman is believed to be earning about £56,000 sterling a week - a consequence of arriving on a Bosman free transfer - making him one of the highest paid players at the Bernabeu.

He was the only Real player not to figure in the Bayern Munich centenary tournament last weekend and it appears to be a question of when, rather than if, his time with the European champions is brought to an end.

The likelihood of him returning to the Premiership remains distant, however, with McManaman emphasising: "I don't see any reason to return to England."