Cristiano Ronaldo claims the £80million Real Madrid paid
for him is a "fair price" and he is delighted to be the world's
most expensive player.
Ronaldo will put the finishing touches on his move from
Manchester United on Monday night when he is officially unveiled as
the Spanish giants' latest signing.
Kaka and Raul Albiol have already been presented following their
respective moves from AC Milan and Valencia, while Lyon striker
Karim Benzema is close to completing his switch to Madrid as the
Primera Division outfit's spending spree rapidly approaches the
£200million mark.
It is the signing of Ronaldo that has captured everyone's
attention and imagination, though, as Madrid finally got their man
this summer to end a transfer saga that has lasted more than two
years.
It took an astronomical fee to persuade United to part with the
FIFA World Player of the Year, and Madrid have come in for a fair
amount of criticism from both inside and outside the footballing
community for spending so much money in the current global
financial crisis.
However, Ronaldo believes Madrid are justified in paying the fee
- and also feels he can live up to the price tag.
"I think that it's a fair figure. If Manchester United and Real
Madrid agree this amount, then there is nothing more to say," he
told Marca.
"The great players cost a lot of money, and if you want them you
have to pay it. I'm happy to be the most expensive player in the
world."
In response to those who have qualms about so much money being
spent on one footballer, he added: "I respect everyone's opinions,
but I don't agree with these people.
"If Real Madrid have paid so much money, it's because they
wanted me and have considered it a fair price.
"I'm going to try to do everything in my hands to play very well
and I will show that the money they are paying for me has been a
good decision."
Ronaldo is the centrepiece of Florentino Perez's Madrid
revolution, as the returning president looks to take the fallen
giants back to the top of the footballing tree.
Last season Madrid had to watch on in envy as arch rivals
Barcelona won an unprecedented treble of Primera Division, Copa del
Rey and Champions League - and it has been a long time since the
Whites made any waves in Europe.
Not once in the last five years have nine-time European
champions Madrid managed to get past the last 16 in the Champions
League - and with next season's final being held at the Bernabeu,
they will be desperate to go all the way.
Much will be demanded of Ronaldo, but the Portugal international
is confident he can deal with the expectations.
"I've been used to having pressure for a long time. In this
sense I'm calm," he said.
"This (price tag) isn't something I'm going to think about when
I go out on to the pitch, so it's not going to affect me.
"I know that they are going to demand a lot of me to be
successful at the club and I know that I'm going to have much more
pressure than at Manchester United, because I was there for many
years. But it means a new challenge and is going to help me be the
best footballer.
"As well as that, Spain is a different league - with different
players, a different club - and this is going to motivate me to
continue working hard and winning things."
