Carlo Ancelotti has moved into quash any rumours linking midfielder Asier Illarramendi with a move away from the club.

The 24-year-old is subjected to transfer interest from several Spanish clubs, who are willing to take advantage of the fact that the player is not getting much game time at Madrid. Atletic Bilbao are thought to be one of the potential suitors for the player who could cost in the region of € 20 million. The transfer interest has particularly gathered pace after Madrid brought in Lucas Silva from Brazilian football for around £ 9 million.

The Cruzeiro midfielder has been one of the best players in Brazilian football over the last few years. After being heavily linked with Real Madrid for the last few months, the Spanish outfit finally managed to sign him. He is joined by Norwegian talent Martin Odegaard, who has reportedly cost to the club in excess of £ 3 million at just 16 years of age.

The youngster is seen as prodigiously talented with the ability to become the next Zinedine Zidane at the club. Rather than sign high-profile names, Madrid have adopted this strategy of buying young players. This could see the departure ofIllarramendi, who has never been a first-team regular since coming to Madrid in 2013.

“About Illarramendi there is nothing new. He is a Real Madrid player, it is true he has not played much lately, but that does not change my confidence in him, or his importance for the team. So there is nothing new about that. One of [Sami] Khedira or Illarra will play tomorrow. For each game we must play just 11 players. It is not that I do not have confidence in those who do not play. I have full confidence in Illarra, I need him, and I will play him in future,” said Ancelotti before the match against Cordoba.