Giant basketball legend

Shaquille O'Neal towers

Marcelo gives a thumbs up to the camera after meeting

Shaquille O'Neal

Real Madrid legends Marcelo, Mateo Kovacic and Keylor Navas

were left starstruck after meeting 7ft tall basketball hero Shaquille

O'Neal in America.

The European champions have been based in California

on their pre-season tour.

And in a break from their preparations for the new season,

the La Liga giants took time out to meet a fellow

giant of the sporting world.

Midfielder Mateo Kovacic shakes hands with the

giant basketball legend

The LA Lakers legend towered over his footballing counterparts

as they came - not quite - face to face on Monday.

O'Neal retired from basketball in 2011 after a 19-year career

in the sport that took him through five teams, from Orlando Magic

to Boston Celtics.

Kovacic and Navas shook hands with the 45-year-old,

while full back Marcelo grinned broadly and gave a

thumbs up to the camera.

Real were beaten in their opening pre-season friendly on

Sunday night, losing on penalties to Manchester United after

sharing a 1-1 draw in normal time.

Zinedine Zidane's side face Manchester City and Barcelona

in their remaining two International Champions

Cup fixtures this month.

Keylor Navas grins for the camera as he shakes hands

with the towering O'Neal