By Xinhua
Madrid : Spain’s Real Madrid soccer club has presented its newly contracted players – Argentine defender Gabriel Heinze and Dutch midfielder Arjen Robben.
Real Madrid’s honorary president Alfredo Di Stefano Thursday handed over team shirts to the two new players before 7,000 fans gathered at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium.
Club president Ramon Calderon defined Heinze as “one of the best defensive players in the world”.
Real Madrid, Spanish league champions last season, paid $15.6 million for Heinze to England’s Manchester United and $46.8 million for Robben to Chelsea.
“It is a joy to wear this 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,” Heinze said after the ceremonial presentation.
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.”