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Tuesday June 24, 2008

Ronaldo fee would not frighten Real, says Zidane

VIENNA: Real Madrid would be ready to pay Manchester United a world record fee to bring winger Cristiano Ronaldo to the Bernabeu, former Real favourite Zinedine Zidane said on Sunday.

Ronaldo’s future has become the focus of intense speculation, with Real reported by Spanish media to be prepared to offer well in excess of the world record 78mil euros (US$121.1mil) they paid Juventus for Zidane in 2001.

“Real would not be frightened of paying a large sum of money because in the past every time they have wanted a player they have managed to bring him to Madrid,” Zidane told a news conference.

“Obviously, it will be up to the player. If he wants to go, one day or another he will be at Real Madrid.”

As for the Frenchman’s burden of being the world’s expensive footballer, Zidane said: “If he went to Madrid, it will be quite an amount. Madrid are ready to pay more than for me.

“This would actually lift a weight from my shoulders. Hopefully, they will pay more for him than for me.”

Ronaldo, who helped United win the Premier League and last month’s Champions League, said on Thursday there was a strong possibility he would join Real but a move was not down to him.

The 23-year-old winger helped Portugal reach the last eight at Euro 2008, where their campaign ended in a 3-2 defeat by Germany, and Zidane tipped him for France Football magazine’s prestigious Ballon d’Or award for his efforts over the year.

“I think he’s had a superb season, he won the (English) championship and the Champions League,” said Zidane, who retired after the 2006 World Cup final, at an Adidas event. – Reuters

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