"I've spoken with Johan Bruyneel and lacking only a few details, I'll go with him to Astana," Contador told Spanish daily Marca today. "Their offer convinced me."

The Spanish rider is set to follow Bruyneel from the disbanded Discovery Channel team.

"I've received various offers from important teams since Discovery Channel said it was leaving the sport, but I had to study each one carefully because in the world of cycling you can't make many errors," Contador said. "I didn't receive any offers from Spain. I would have liked it but I can only hope for next time."

Marca reported that Bruyneel agreed to a three-year deal in principle to take up the manager's role at Astana after the Swiss-Kazahk team said it failed to reach an agreement to continue with current director general Marc Biver.

But Astana spokeswoman Corinne Druey said the team "did not and won't ask Alberto Contador to be a rider on the team next year."

"We're only seeing this in the media," she said. "The riders of the Astana cycling team don't know what their futures will be."

Astana withdrew from the Tour de France and wasn't invited to the Spanish Vuelta in September after a string of doping scandals.

Alexandre Vinokourov was fired after testing positive for a blood transfusion during the Tour, while riders Andrej Kashechkin and Matthias Kessler also failed doping tests this year.

Contador wasn't concerned about Astana's current reputation.

"It is clear that the new Astana has nothing to do with the old team," the 24-year-old Contador said.

Contador said Discovery Channel teammates Benjamin Noval and Sergio Paulinho would move with him. Spanish media reported that Levi Leipheimer of the United States is also expected to join Astana.