Cameroon international defender Geremi is set to stay with Real Madrid, according to their sports director Jorge Valdano.

Geremi had been linked with Arsenal and particularly Chelsea, but he now seems certain to stay put.

Valdano told website onefootball.com that agent Jose Veiga visited Madrid on Chelsea's behalf last week, but was told the player was not for sale.

"The Geremi deal is off," Valdano said. "We will only sell him if it becomes urgent to raise money.

"I held a meeting with Jose Veiga and told him that Real Madrid would no longer sell Geremi because we have discovered how important he is to us.

Record of success

"We found that Geremi can play as a right-back or a central defender and that could be important as we know our defence is the weakest part of the team."

Geremi, who is captain of Cameroon, initially asked for a transfer after failing to oust Michel Salgado from the right back slot.

He has an astonishing record of success, adding the Spanish league title last season to the previous year's Champions League success.

With Cameroon, he won the Cup of Nations and the Olympic gold medal in 2000, but regular international appearances have contributed to losing his regular starting place at Madrid.