Soccer: Real go shopping
Stung by the unprecedented success their fierce rivals Barcelona enjoyed in the 2008-09 season, Real Madrid hit back…like only Real Madrid can.
Firstly, they signed up Kaka from AC Milan for 56 million pounds and then 3 days later, lured away Cristiano Ronaldo away from Manchester United for a staggering 80 million pounds.
Real president Florentino Perez fulfilled his chersished dream, one that he had vocally pursued all of last year.
Not content yet, Real Madrid managed to wean away playmaker Xabi Alonso from Liverpool FC as well as Karim Benzema from Olympique Lyonnais, presenting coach Manuel Pellegrini with an array of talent in his bid to topple Barcelona from the perch.
And have they suceeded? Well...this season they are trailing Barcelona in the La Liga points table so far and have also been beaten 1-0 in a ‘Al Classico’ once!
Manchester City provided the English version of Real Madrid type spending.
Boosted financially after Abu Dhabi United Group took over the club, City opened their doors to all and sundry as they tried to reposition themselves as one of England’s Big Four.
Gareth Barry, Roque Santa Cruz, Kolo Touré, Emmanuel Adebayor, Carlos Tévez and Joleon Lescott were some of the high profile signings by the club currently at sixth in the league table.
Stung by the unprecedented success their fierce rivals Barcelona enjoyed in the 2008-09 season, Real Madrid hit back…like only Real Madrid can.
Firstly, they signed up Kaka from AC Milan for 56 million pounds and then 3 days later, lured away Cristiano Ronaldo away from Manchester United for a staggering 80 million pounds.
Real president Florentino Perez fulfilled his chersished dream, one that he had vocally pursued all of last year.
Not content yet, Real Madrid managed to wean away playmaker Xabi Alonso from Liverpool FC as well as Karim Benzema from Olympique Lyonnais, presenting coach Manuel Pellegrini with an array of talent in his bid to topple Barcelona from the perch.
And have they suceeded? Well...this season they are trailing Barcelona in the La Liga points table so far and have also been beaten 1-0 in a ‘Al Classico’ once!
Manchester City provided the English version of Real Madrid type spending.
Boosted financially after Abu Dhabi United Group took over the club, City opened their doors to all and sundry as they tried to reposition themselves as one of England’s Big Four.
Gareth Barry, Roque Santa Cruz, Kolo Touré, Emmanuel Adebayor, Carlos Tévez and Joleon Lescott were some of the high profile signings by the club currently at sixth in the league table.