AFP afpji

Ronaldo passes medical, set for hero's welcome at Real

Mon 06 Jul, 09:14 PM


MADRID (AFP) - Cristiano Ronaldo has passed his medical test at Real Madrid and is set to be introduced as the club's latest signing, completing a deal that makes him the most expensive player in the world.

The 2008 FIFA world player, who spent the past six years at England's Manchester United, arrived in Madrid on Monday on a private flight from his native Portugal where he was on holiday, sparking a media frenzy.

In a statement, the head of Real's medical services, Carlos Diez, said the 24-year-old striker was "in perfect condition and looking forward to the beginning of the season."

Ronaldo will don Real's jersey for the first time at a ceremony at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium which is scheduled to get underway at 9 pm (1900 GMT).

Real acquired the player from Manchester United last month on a six-year deal worth 94 million euros (131 million dollars) and Spanish media reports that he will be paid 13 million euros each season.

He will team up with Kaka, the 2007 FIFA world player, who signed with Real from AC Milan for 65 million euros from AC Milan in early June.

Kaka was officially unveiled on June 30 at the Bernabeu stadium before 55,000 fans, according to club figures, and Real predicts as many as 80,000 people may attend Ronaldo's presentation.

That would make it the most attended presentation of a footballer since 75,000 fans cheered the arrival of Argentina's Diego Maradona at Naples from FC Barcelona in July 1984. Fans had to pay to enter the stadium in that event.

By noon hundreds of fans, equipped with food and drinks for a lengthy wait, were already at the stadium waiting for the free event to get underway.

"I am here because he is handsome and I am from Madrid," one young female supporter told private televion TVE as she sat surrounded by friends outside the stadium waiting for the unveiling to get underway.

Sports daily AS reported over the weekend that Ronaldo will wear the Number 9 shirt once sported by club legend Alfredo di Stefano.

The Argentine striker, Real's honorary president, is expected to present Ronaldo with his jersey at the player's official unveiling.

Kaka was the first big name who construction magnate Florentino Perez signed since he returned in June for a second stint as president of Real.

Perez, who brought Luis Figo and Zinedine Zidane to Real during his first term as the club's president between 2000 and 2006, is seeking to rebuild a squad which trailed arch rival FC Barcelona last season by reviving his policy of signing football superstars.

Among Real's other signings is French striker Karim Benzema from Lyon and defender Raul Albiol, who joined from financially troubled Spanish side Valencia.

 

Comment 1 - 13 of 13

Sort comments by: Most recent
  1. More fanciful than shi=t=ty Wednesday.

    From Close The Door Behind You Rafa., on Mon 6 Jul 9:23PM
  2. HEY WHITE PRIDE HOW COME YOU KEEP COPYING WHAT I RIGHT­ YOU SCOUSE NOBHEAD I WROTE THAT TO IAN THE LOSERPOOL­ NOB SH**HOUSE
    GLOOOOOORY GLOOOOOORY MAN UTD

    From WAYNE, on Mon 6 Jul 7:15PM
  3. IAN G IAM A SEASON TICKET HOLDER AT OLD TRAFFORD­ LIVEING IN SALFORD ALL MY LIFE AND I PASS THE STADIUM­ EVERY DAY GOING TO WORK I HAVE SUPPORTED MANCHESTER­ UNITED FOR THE LAST 30 YEARS MAN AND BOY AND FOLLOW­ THEM HOME AND AWAY.I DONT THINK YOU SUPPORT SHEFFIELD­ UTD
    I THINK YOU ARE A JEALOUS SKIP RAT SCOUSER SCUMBAG­ WHOS TEAM WILL NEVER WIN ENYTHING WHOS MANAGER IS THE­ WORST IN THE PREMIER LEAGUE AND IS A CONMAN FACT­ LOSSEERRRRRPOOL
    NO DOUGHT
    GLOOOOOORY GLOOOOOORY MAN­ UTD
    PREMIER LEAGUE CHAMPIONS 11 TIMES FACT
    LOSERPOOL­ PREMIER LEAGUE TITLES NIL ZERO ZILCH

    From whitepride, on Mon 6 Jul 7:04PM
  4. why is all this @#$% about ronaldo still in the man utd­ news??
    hopefully after this presentation they will­ stop.
    hes a real madrid player now isnt he?

    From lennoxhead, on Mon 6 Jul 6:23PM
  5. Wayne, where do you come from? Lemme see,...sure­ you're in London, most probably don't even know­ how Old Trafford looks like. Just another Glory Hunter.­ I haven't got time for your likes.

    From Ian, on Mon 6 Jul 5:27PM
  6. never stops does it... was hoping it would be out of­ our manutd news by now.. guess i was mistaken.. its­ worse now than it ever was... roll on the new season.

    From DARREN H, on Mon 6 Jul 5:21PM
  7. IAN G IS THAT THE WORLD FAMOUS SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY YOU­ FU**IN BINDIPPIN SKIP RAT SCOUSE THEVING MURDERER PICK­ POCKET
    GLOOOOOORY GLOOOOOORY MAN UTD
    PREMIER LEAGUE­ CHAMPIONS FACT FOR THE 11 TIME

    From WAYNE, on Mon 6 Jul 5:14PM
  8. Oh, just go away, you cheating, whining, hair-gel­ sucking wan_ker. We're fed-up of you now. No doubt­ you'll save your bit_ch whining for when Liverpool­ stick another 5 past you in the Champions League. Perez­ might have spent stupid money on it's front-line,­ but it ain't gonna stop them leaking goals. With­ the same back-line as last season, my sister's­ nursery school team could net against them.

    From Rock and Roll Machine, on Mon 6 Jul 5:13PM
  9. Hey John. You and I know that the top stars in the­ world will choose R.Madrid, Barcelona, AC Milan,­ Juventus and even Liverpool ahead of United. It's­ about History and class, baby.

    From Ian, on Mon 6 Jul 4:55PM
  10. I support Sheffield Wednesday. What do you wanna say?

    From Ian, on Mon 6 Jul 4:52PM
  11. What the heck r u on wierdo "spoilt babies and­ realize that your club­ isn't fanciful".
    Are­ you a Johnny foreigner then?

    From John, on Mon 6 Jul 4:35PM
  12. Ian G what team do you support is it Man City or­ Liverpool?

    From John, on Mon 6 Jul 4:33PM
  13. Hahahahaha HERO RONALDO. I wonder what the mancs think­ about that. Or are they still moaning his departure.­ Wake up,.....spoilt babies and realize that your club­ isn't fanciful.

    From Ian, on Mon 6 Jul 4:25PM
Sort comments by: Most recent

Not already a Yahoo! user ? to get a free Yahoo! Account