The 34-year-old World Cup winner will leave Madrid to join Turkish champions Fenerbahce on a two-year contract at the end of the season and was speaking at his last news conference at Real after 11 years with the club.

"I never expected to see myself at another club. I didn't want to leave but circumstances change in football and an opportunity came up that allowed me to move to get what I had wanted here," Roberto Carlos said.

"I couldn't reach an agreement with the club but I don't blame anyone. Fenerbahce's president made me feel important again and I have a chance for a great future with them.

"I don't want to leave here on a bad footing. I am leaving happy and with my head held high."

Roberto Carlos likened his departure to that of his team mate David Beckham, who is leaving to join Los Angeles Galaxy.

"The same happened with Beckham and they are losing a great person," he added.

The defender, who played 125 matches for Brazil winning the World Cup in 2002, also played more than 500 times for Real, more than any other foreign-born player.

He won three European Cups and three league titles while with Real and said winning a fourth on Sunday would be a perfect way to end to his time in the Spanish capital.

He joined the club from Inter Milan in 1996, in coach Fabio Capello's first spell at the club, and lifted the league title in his first season.

On Sunday, leaders Real host mid-table Real Mallorca knowing that a victory will guarantee them the championship regardless of the result in second-placed Barcelona's match against Gimnastic.

"I started with a title and I would love to leave with one as well. We haven't won a title in three years and we started this season badly," he said.

"But we have improved and Sunday is the most important game of the league. People think it will be easy but we have great respect for Mallorca's players and coach and are aware they'll put up a good fight."