The world's best player yesterday became its most expensive when the France midfielder Zinedine Zidane swapped Juventus for Real Madrid in a deal worth £46.2 million sterling.
The record move was completed despite FIFA agreeing at their world conference in Buenos Aires to introduce a new international transfer system. Zidane, 29 and over a year into his contract at the Stadio delle Alpi, would have been available for nothing at the end of next season under the new system.
Instead, the fee dwarfs the £37 million Real paid Barcelona for Luis Figo a year ago. Zidane, the outstanding talent at France 98 and Euro 2000, has signed a four-year contract - which includes an option for an additional year - worth up to £3.5 million-a-season after tax and incorporating a buy-out clause worth £109 million.
"I have been waiting impatiently for this moment and, after five years at Juventus, I think it was the right time to make a move," said the world player of the year of 1998 and 2000, who was introduced to the media by the former Real star and honorary president Alfredo di Stefano.
"I have signed for the best club in the world; it is a great honour to come here. Real have shown in the past and present that they are one of the world's great clubs and I hope that I will be able to do as well if not better than I did at Juve."
Madrid, who left no stone unturned in their quest for Zidane, did appear to make a gaffe at his presentation yesterday before the media. They did not provide a translator, which left many of the journalists in the room shaking their heads in confusion when Zidane spoke.
Zidane then posed for photos in the number five shirt, rather than the number 21 which he was expected to take up. The number five once belonged to 18-year Real veteran Manuel Sanchis, who retired at the end of last season.
Zidane's immediate goal will be to steer the Spanish club to their ninth European Cup and so complete a notable personal treble - the Champions League remains the principal major honour still to elude the World Cup and European Championship winning midfielder.
In addition to Figo and Zidane, Real boast the likes of Brazilian defender Roberto Carlos and Spain striker Raul. The club are also in the hunt for Gaizka Mendieta of Valencia.
The signing has sparked a predictable frenzy of "Zidane mania" in the Spanish capital. Real supporters - who celebrated winning La Liga last month but were frustrated by European elimination at the hands of Bayern Munich in the Champions League semi-finals - massed outside the Ciudad Deportiva in the hope of catching a glimpse of their new idol. The club has already received a substantial delivery of replica shirts bearing the player's name in anticipation of huge sales.
"I've said before that certain players were born to play for Real Madrid and fit perfectly the characteristics needed to play at this club and Zinedine Zidane is one such player," said the Real president Florentino Perez, who described the club as in "a state of economic intensive care" on taking up the reins last year.
Since then, Real have spent over £100 million on new personnel despite debts of over £120 million. However, the imminent sale of the club's city centre training facility to Madrid city council for £200 million will ease any long term financial worries, while shirt sales, control of some of the player's image rights and the opening up of new French-speaking markets may help Real recoup part of their massive outlay on Zidane.
"I am confident that Zinedine will shine even more brightly than before and that his presence will make this great club even greater," added Perez. "Real Madrid was awarded the title of the greatest team of the century by Fifa last year and we are now constructing a team which will achieve the same in the 21st century."
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