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Asier Illarramendi: Real Madrid move 'did not go as well as I would have liked'

Asier Illarramendi said his time at Real Madrid had not worked out as he had hoped after completing a return to Real Sociedad.

Illarramendi joined Madrid from Sociedad in a €38.8 million deal in 2013 but struggled to win a regular place under then coach Carlo Ancelotti.

And with new Bernabeu manager Rafa Benitez having paid €30m for Croatia international Mateo Kovacic, 25-year-old Illarramendi rejoined his old club in a move reported to be worth an initial €16 million.

Speaking at his presentation at the Anoeta, he said: "Things did not go as well as I would have liked.

"You learn from everything, the good and the bad. It was not so bad, though. In two years I won four trophies [the Copa del Rey, Champions League, European Supercup and Spanish Supercopa, although he played only eight minutes across those finals]."

When it became clear Ilarramendi would be leaving Madrid, he was linked with clubs including Liverpool, Tottenham, Juventus, Inter Milan and Southampton.

"I had different possibilities to weigh up, but I had a pretty clear decision," he explained. "I spoke with my people and took the decision two days ago."

Adding that he had already had a chat with his new boss David Moyes, he said: "I was with the coach for a while -- and I already know I will have to learn more English."