No end in sight to 'imperialist' Real's spending spree

Printer Friendly

Share

Text Size

MADRID, July 2, 2009 (AFP) - In one month, Real Madrid has shelled out more than 200 million euros for Kaka, Cristiano Ronaldo, Raul Albiol and Karim Benzema -- and everything indicates the spending spree is far from over.

The splurge, amid an economic crisis and general belt-tightening elsewhere, has sparked cynicism at some other top European clubs.

At Real's arch-rival Barcelona, president Joan Laporta has denounced the "imperialist" plan of his Madrid counterpart Florentino Perez.

In England, Italy and Germany, some clubs faced with financial difficulties also take a dim view of "chequebook policies" at Madrid.

UEFA president Michel Platini said there is "something abnormal" in the massive transfer fees paid out by Real: a world record 93 million euros for Cristiano Ronaldo, 67 million for Kaka, 35 to 41 million for Benzema and 15 million for Raul Albiol.

"These transfers are a serious challenge to the idea of fairplay and the concept of financial balance in our competitions," said Platini, who as one of the world's top players was lured to Juventus of Italy from French side St Etienne back in 1982.

"UEFA is working hard with clubs to set up a new set of rules as soon as is possible to clean up the system and give it a more solid, more transparent base," Platini told AFP.

"That is our top priority today."

French side Lyon, which agreed to sell Benzema on Wednesday, said Real "benefits ... from legislative, but also fiscal and real estate, measures that have no relation to the current situation concerning professional sport in France."

Foreign players in Spain pay tax on just 24 percent of their income compared to 43 percent for Spanish players with similar salaries, under the so-called "Beckham law", after English footballing icon David Beckham, who was the first to benefit after his arrival at Real in 2003.

Florentino Perez, who oversaw the Real 'Galacticos' of Beckham, Zinedine Zidane and Ronaldo during his first term at the club in 2000-2006, has done nothing to stem the criticism.

The construction magnate points instead to the "return on investment" in his world stars through marketing deals, publicity and broadcasting fees.

Six hundred of Kaka's "number eight" shirts were sold in just two hours, or five a minute, after he was presented on Tuesday at the Santiago Bernebeu stadium, according to sports newspaper Marca.

"We have never sold so many shirts of one player, including Zidane," a representative of sports equipment manufacturer Adidas told the paper.

Perez plans to spend up to 300 million euros on new signings in this close season. A total of 100 million of this will come from the club's capital, 150 million from bank loans and the rest from the resale of players.

Real, which officially has debts of 200 million euros, now has its eye on Bayern Munich's France international Frank Ribery and Liverpool's Xabi Alonso.

The only problem is that none of its players reported to be on the market, including the club's six Dutchmen, appear ready to leave.