Sunday, August 1, 2010

KAKA immediately ensured he would be the darling of the Real Madrid fans by throwing down the gauntlet to bitter rivals Barcelona on his arrival in the Spanish capital.  

The Brazil superstar fired off the salvo to the delight of the crowds when officially unveiled as Madrid’s first recruit of what looks like a busy summer of transfers at the Bernabeu.  

Returning president Florentino Perez had promised a “spectacular project” to get the Spanish giants back to the peak of the elite, but beating bitter rivals Barcelona is just as important.

Pep Guardiola’s side are again likely to be the team to beat - having achieved an unprecedented treble of Primera Division, Copa del Rey and Champions League last season. But Kaka feels Madrid can give the Catalan outfit a run for their money.

“Can we challenge Barca? Yes. That’s what Florentino Perez’s sporting project is for, to beat Barcelona next season,” said Kaka.

“Their three titles are deserved, but Real Madrid are going to be a major team next season, both in Europe and in Spain.”

And the 27-year-old former FIFA World Player of the Year revealed Perez’s plans for Madrid had helped persuade him to make the move from the San Siro.

“When I spoke to the president he showed us his sporting project, and it influenced me a lot,” explained Kaka, who had attracted the interest of other clubs, including Chelsea and Manchester City. “He’s a winner and everything he wants is with this in mind.

“I asked him if he could do everything that he said, and he has shown that he can. It’s a great privilege to form part of great teams. I’ve been fortunate to play with talented players, and I’m now going to continue doing the same.

“But my experience in football has told me that talent alone is not enough,” he added. “I’ve met players with a lot of talent who have not been successful, and others with less talent who have been champions.

“It’s something else to have a team of players with talent who sacrifice themselves to achieve the same aim.”

And one of those talented players he will be hoping will be ‘sacrificing’ himself for the sake of the team will be Cristiano Ronaldo, whose record-breaking $132million move from Manchester United was confirmed yesterday.

 And with the funds dropping into the Old Trafford side’s account, United manager Sir Alex Ferguson paid tribute to the Portuguese winger.

“Cristiano has been a marvellous player for United. “His six years at Old Trafford have seen him develop into the best footballer in the world,” said Ferguson.

“His contribution has been a major factor in the club’s success and his talent, his ability to entertain and his infectious personality have enthralled fans the world over. Everyone here wishes him well in his future career.”