Spain's Real Madrid soccer club presented on Thursday its newly
contracted players -- Argentine defender Gabriel Heinze and Dutch
midfielder Arjen Robben.
Real Madrid's honorary president Alfredo Di Stefano handed over
T-shirts to the two new players before 7,000 fans gathered at
Madrid's Santiago Bernabeu stadium.
Real Madrid's president Ramon Calderon defined Heinze as "one of
the best defense players in the world."
Real Madrid, Spain's soccer champion last season, paid 12
million euros (US$15.6 million) for Heinze to England's Manchester
United soccer team and 36 million euros (US$46.8 million) for
Robben to England's Chelsea soccer team.
Herinze said "it is a joy to dress this T-shirt. I am going to
play as I have done so far. I hope that in this season we can
continue to make fans happy."
Robben, well received by fans, said in Spanish "thanks to the
club, the president and the associates for the effort and patience
they have had to book me. I have entered a dream world."
(Xinhua News Agency August 24, 2007)