Saviola flies to Madrid to close deal with Real

MADRID, July 12 (Reuters) Argentina striker Javier Saviola is close to sealing a move to Real Madrid after catching a plane from Barcelona to the Spanish capital today.

''It's going to be a new era for me and I have high expectations,'' Saviola told Radio Marca.

The 25-year-old, who turned down a contract extension after six years at Barca, is expected to have a medical at Real and be presented after signing a four-year contract tomorrow.

He will follow in the footsteps of Bernd Schuster -- the new Real coach who reportedly asked the Spanish champions to secure his services -- Michael Laudrup and Luis Figo in making the rare move across Spain to Barcelona's arch-rivals.

Saviola joined Barca from River Plate for 28 million dollars in 2001 but dropped down the pecking order when Frank Rijkaard became coach of the Catalan team in 2003.

The Argentine was loaned to Monaco in 2004 and spent the 2005/06 season at Sevilla before returning to Barcelona for the campaign that has just ended.

Although he turned in some impressive performances at the start of the year, Saviola dropped out of the reckoning soon after and decided to leave when his contract expired in June.

REUTERS BJR VV2133