KUNMING (China), July 29: France midfielder Zinedine Zidane will retire when his Real Madrid contract expires in 2005, he said on Tuesday.

Zidane, who will be 33 in two years’ time, told reporters: “I’m under contract with Real Madrid for two more years and, until then, I will play as well as possible, in any competition.”

“After those two years, I will quietly retire.”

Zidane, who joined Madrid from Juventus for a world-record fee of $64.4 million in 2001, is currently on a three-week tour of China with the Real squad preparing for next season.

Zidane’s final matches for his country are likely to be during next year’s European championship in Portugal.

Meanwhile, Zidane said the arrival of David Beckham had spurred the players to fight harder for their places.

“I think its normal, very normal at a team like Real Madrid to have to fight hard and I think with the arrival of Beckham we will have to try to work harder,” he said.—Reuters/AFP