FIFA president Sepp Blatter has defended Real
Madrid's record-breaking £80million move for Manchester United
Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Spanish giants have agreed to shell out the
huge sum just days after completing a big-money move for Brazilian
superstar Kaka.
Real are also reported to be weighing up a move for Valencia
striker David Villa, with another substantial outlay required in
order to land the Spain international.
Their exploits in the transfer market have made a mockery of the
ongoing global recession and have been blasted in some
quarters.
However, FIFA supremo Blatter insists the recent dealings only
go to prove that football remains in good shape despite the
financial chaos which has engulfed the world.
"It means that our product is still a good product," Blatter
said ahead of the Confederations Cup.
"If this is the game of the people, they need stars."
He added: "Okay, it is a lot of money, but he is performing.
"There is still demand to have a star.
"We are on the market, and we are on a very sensitive market
nowadays because there is an economic crisis. In football, we are
in still on the good market."
Blatter also believes that player valuations were inevitably
going to rise as record-breaking deals which shocked the world have
been going on for years.
"It was already $50 million (£30m) more than 10 years ago," he
said, hinting at Inter Milan's purchase of Brazil international
Ronaldo in 1997.
"So what is 80 million pounds now? That means there is still
demand to have a star."
