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Zidane backs Madrid move for Ronaldo

23/06/2008

Former Real Madrid player Zinedine Zidane believes Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo 'would fit in well' at the Bernabeu Stadium.

Frenchman Zidane became the world's most expensive footballer when he completed a £45.6 million move from Juventus to the Spanish capital in 2001.

But the transfer of Ronaldo, who over the weekend revealed he is keen to make the switch to the Primera Liga, is set to smash that record, with estimates putting a price-tag in the region of £80 million on his head.

"If he comes to Madrid it will be quite an amount, they are ready to pay more than for me and this will lift the weight from my shoulders," Zidane said.

"He had a great season, a Premier League and Champions League winner, and I think the fact that he and Portugal got knocked out at the quarterfinals [of Euro 2008] doesn't mean anything because they were up against a great Germany team.

"It doesn't say anything about the merits of his play during the year."

Zidane believes Ronaldo will not be overawed by the prospect of playing for one of the best-known football clubs in the world.

And the former French international is also under no illusions of the pulling power of Los Meringues.

"He is not scared of his new Real Madrid engagement and every time they wanted good players they got them," Zidane added.

"Now it depends on his personal plans, if he wants to play there he will play there."