Spain midfielder David Silva is determined not to let offseason speculation over his future affect his World Cup experience.

The Valencia player has been linked with a move to Real Madrid or Barcelona but said being in South Africa has helped keep him focused.

"I'm very calm right now. The only thing in my head right now is the national team and having a good World Cup," Silva said from the European champion's training base on Saturday. "I'm not thinking about the club and any possible exits. The calmness here helps me a lot to not be thinking about anything else."

Silva wants to avoid the type of situation David Villa was in at last year's Confederations Cup. Villa stayed away from reporters at the tournament as questions were raised over a potential move to Real Madrid, Barcelona or Chelsea. Villa joined Barcelona from Valencia last month.

The 24-year-old Silva's fluid style of play has allowed him to adapt seamlessly to a national team which has a spine of Barcelona players, so questions over a move to the Spanish champions are only natural.

"It doesn't bother me," Silva said. "Playing with great teammates makes it a lot easier. I'm very comfortable here. The coach asks me to play freely, diagonally across the field while maintaining my position to defend well."

Silva has been a regular since making his debut in a 1-0 defeat to Romania in November 2006, scoring 15 goals in 36 games. Spain has lost only one match in the 49 since, and won the 2008 European Championship along the way.

He came up through Valencia's youth academy, joining the senior side to play alongside other attacking stars such as Spain teammates Villa and Juanma Mata. Silva is versatile, comfortable playing behind the central striker, on either flank or in the centre of midfield.

Silva is expected to start Wednesday's Group H opener against Switzerland. Honduras and Chile are also in the group.

Asked about the high expectations of a possible first World Cup title for Spain, Silva said: "We're calm and focused on ourselves. If there's a lot of euphoria, it can hurt us. So we just have to do what we know."

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