Cristiano Ronaldo aims shot at English game
- Monday, July 6, 2009, 16:48
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Cristiano Ronaldo has fired a parting shot at the English Premier League ahead of his unveiling by Real Madrid, claiming Spain’s La Liga is “superior”.
Ronaldo, 24, passed a medical on Monday and will be presented to the fans and media in the evening following his £80m move from Manchester United.
The winger said: “I think La Liga is going to have more quality because of the players that are arriving.
“All the players have a lot of quality and the referees protect the players.”
Ronaldo landed at Madrid airport just after midday local time and travelled to the Hospital Sanitas La Moraleja for his medical as he put the finishing touches on his world record move.
“Ronaldo is in perfect condition and very eager to start the season as soon as possible.” Carlos Diez, Real Madrid’s medical chief, told www.realmadrid.com.
He has an extraordinary cardiac and lung capacity. Now we will be able to start work, using an individual plan in order to improve his performance.
“For him (Ronaldo), it’s a dream, and this dream starts to convert into reality from today.”
The Portugal international has agreed a six-year contract with Real and will be presented at the Bernabeu at 2000 BST, with an estimated 80,000 spectators set to be in attendance.
Ronaldo’s arrival follows that of fellow big-money signing Kaka last week.
More than 50,000 Real Madrid fans are said to have turned out to welcome the Brazilian playmaker, who signed from AC Milan for a reported fee of £56m.
But in a statement posted on its website, Real said Ronaldo’s unveiling “could very well make history”, as hundreds started to queue up outside the Bernabeu as early as Monday morning.
The current record turnout for an unveiling of a player goes to Argentina’s Diego Maradona, who drew 75,000 people when he was presented at Naples in July 1984 after joining the Italian side from FC Barcelona.
Ronaldo will be presented with the number nine shirt by the most famous player to wear it for the club – the legendary Alfredo di Stefano.
And he believes Real’s £200m spending spree this summer, which has resulted in Karim Benzema and Raul Albiol agreeing to switch to the Bernabeu, edges the Spanish league ahead of England’s top flight in terms of quality.
“Both leagues are going to be very good but I think that with Real president Florentino Perez’s signings the Spanish league is superior to the English,” Ronaldo stated.
“It’s going to be a magnificent competition in Spain this year.”
Real are reported to be lining up further big-money moves, with Bayern Munich winger Franck Ribery and Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso said to be on their wanted list.
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