By John Sinnott

Gravesen joined Real Madrid in January 2005

Real Madrid's Danish midfielder Thomas Gravesen says he has had no regrets about joining Real Madrid.

Dropped last November by former boss Wanderley Luxemburgo, Gravesen has only just won back his place in Real's side under new coach Juan Ramon Lopez Caro.

Gravesen, 29, told BBC Sport: "I was ready to try something new and this was a fantastic chance that I got here.

"There will be difficult times when you don't play and I'm definitely sure I made the right decision."

Gravesen has rarely been absent since Real returned to form at the start of 2006 - but his exclusion under Luxemburgo, when he spent two months on the sidelines, still rankles.

He said: "It is frustrating sitting on the bench - no matter what club you are at. It is not easy to accept when you are not playing and you want to show what you are good at doing.

I have still got two years on my contract and we will have to wait and see what is going on Thomas Gravesen

"When you are in a football team with your mates and friends you are trying to do something to prove yourself every time on the training field and the pitch.

"Every time you want to show them so they know they can count on you and you are someone to be reckoned with."

While he was out of the team, Gravesen, who joined Real from Everton in a �2.5m deal just over a year ago, was strongly linked with a return to the Premiership in the January 2006 transfer window.

"It's difficult for me to do anything about all the rumours and speculation that come around in January and in the summer," revealed the Dane.

"The speculation has always been there since I played at Everton and its still there now.

"I just want to play football and that's the main thing for me - not just sitting and waiting for something to happen."

Despite the Dane's re-emergence under new coach Lopez Caro, Gravesen remains uncertain whether he would want to finish his career with Real.

"That's a little bit too early to say as I'm only 29," he added.

"It is very challenging to play here - I have still got two years on my contract and we will have to wait and see what is going on."