Madrid - A Spanish judge will ask Italy to take over an investigation into alleged art smuggling by former Real Madrid president Lorenzo Sanz, because it could have links with the Italian mafia, judicial sources said Thursday.

Sanz was questioned by police Wednesday over charges that he used art works worth 7.5 million euros (11 million dollars) as an advance payment in his failed attempt to buy Italian Serie A club Parma in 2005.

National Court judge Santiago Pedraz was expected to ask the Italian judiciary to take over the case, because Italy was already investigating the possibility that the art works were taken to Italy to launder criminal money earned by the mafia, the sources said.

There was, however, no proof that Sanz was aware of money laundering, the sources explained.

Sanz denied art smuggling, saying intermediaries working for an Italian auction house asked for his permission to take to Italy some Spanish paintings he owned.

The intermediaries promised to obtain all the necessary export permits, but failed to do so, Sanz told journalists. (dpa)