West Ham flop Julien Faubert has admitted his shock at sealing a move to Real Madrid after completing his six-month loan switch to the Spanish giants

West Ham flop Julien Faubert has admitted his shock at sealing a move to Real Madrid after completing his six-month loan switch to the Spanish giants on Monday.

The French midfielder, who has started just one league game for the Hammers in the past two months, has moved to Madrid on loan until the end of the season, with the Primera Liga having an option to buy him on a permanent basis.

But Faubert has revealed that he initially thought news of Real's interest in him was "a joke".

He said: "I thought it was all a joke at first to be honest. It was only afterwards that I realised it was all true and that Real Madrid were interested.

"It still hasn't set in - this is a dream come true. The best players have all wound up here and won many titles. It's the best team in the world. I couldn't be happier."

Real have paid �1.5m to secure the former France international on a temporary deal and Hammers chief executive Scott Duxbury admitted the deal was too good to turn down for a player that has failed to live up to expectations since arriving at Upton Park.

"Julien has struggled to get into the team this season and, despite the high hopes we had for him when he joined us, he has not had the best of times," Duxbury said.

"He had asked the manager about a possible move and we felt it right to let him talk to Real Madrid.