Zinedine Zidane wants Cristiano Ronaldo to take his tag as the world's most expensive player and has given his seal of approval for the winger to become Real Madrid's latest big money signing.
Ronaldo looks intent on leaving Manchester United for the Bernabeu, where Zidane spent the last five years of his career playing in a team featuring the likes of Luis Figo and David Beckham.
Madrid are expected to break the world record transfer fee of Ģ46million they paid for Zidane if they are to land Ronaldo - and the France legend feels it would be value for money.
"If he will come to Madrid it will be quite an amount, they are ready to pay more than for me and this will lift the weight from my shoulders," said the former France playmaker, who retired in 2006.
"He had a great season, a league and Champions League winner, and I think the fact that he and Portugal got knocked out at the quarter-finals doesn't mean anything because they were up against a great Germany team.
"It doesn't say anything about the merits during the year. He is not scared of his new Real Madrid engagement and every time they wanted good players they got them.
"Now it depends on his personal plans, if he wants to play there he will play there."
Zidane has confirmed that he wants to return to football but that he has no imminent plans to do so.
The 35-year-old also admitted that Russia's Andrei Arshavin has caught his eye during Euro 2008 so far.
"When you see their number 10 it is great," Zidane said.
"What he does at this stage is more difficult than a World Cup because it's the first big tournament he has played in.
"I was very happy to see that type of football played. He has great feet."
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Comment 1 - 9 of 9
i miss zidane very much
The guy's been great for St Petersburgh and Russia but you ever thought of the fact that he's 27 and well in football, 27's a lot ! ! ! This is his year to prove himself and Arshavin's been absolutely wonderful BUT what if he's not that great in any other league or team aside these two???
in: andrei arshavin
out: andrei shevchenko
Well Portugal got beat by germany but germany were hardly great, good yeah great no, portugal were lacklustre and boring, Ronaldo did'nt perform on the big stage yet again, Zidane says everytime R M wanted good players they got them well maybe it's time they did'nt just get what they want.
@#$% barca they gta a good enuff team as it is n still cnt do nuthin withit look at last season for instence load of stars dnt make a team u need layers who will live sweat n dream for the team the play for n the likes of henry ronaldinho n eto r starting 2 not care 2 much wat haoppens with barca barca need a hole new set of players in n a hole set out n the they mite be able 2 callange the tru madridstas REAL MADRID TILL I DIE PEOPLE :):):):):):):):)
With a name like that, Arshavin will never play in England
The legendary Zinedine Zidane...my most favourite footballer of all-time.Can't wait to see you as a manager someday.
Abramovich will scoop him up before Barca...
Andrei Arshavin wil the best barca player when he come to barcelona.
I wil be happy barīca buy him
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