Villarreal midfielder Robert Pires has backed fellow Frenchman Lassana Diarra to be a big success at Real Madrid.

Pires and his Villarreal team-mates provided the opposition as Diarra made his Madrid debut last weekend following his move from Portsmouth, and it was the Primera Liga new boy who came out on top after helping the champions record a 1-0 win.

Diarra was brought in to help cover the injury losses of fellow midfielders Mahamadou Diarra and Ruben de la Red, who have both been ruled out for the season, and Pires feels Madrid have made a good addition in the 23-year-old.

"Lass is a player who I`m sure is going to do very well for Madrid," Pires told French radio station RMC.

"Currently Madrid are not in a great moment and someone like Lassana is the ideal player to give Madrid the balance they are looking for.

"I hope he has a great career there because now he is at one of the best clubs in the world."