Real Madrid critics told: You're ignorant

APPARENTLY, anyone who is a tad concerned over the ethics of Real Madrid spending £136m on two players during a global recession is “ignorant and misguided”.

So says outspoken Bernebau president Florentino Perez, who has engineered the unlikely capture of Kaka and, probably, Cristiano Ronaldo.

Personally, I beg to differ. 

Aside from the plethora of moral issues involved, there are also the sporting implications to consider.

Firstly, there is something distinctly unimaginative about plundering clubs for their best players at whatever the cost.  

What’s more, the reintroduction of the controversial Galactico programme seems to me to be an unsustainable method in achieving long-term success.

As was the case when Madrid splashed out on Zidane, Ronaldo (the fat Brazilian one), Figo and co a decade ago, the value of superstars at the top of their game will only go one way - down.  

It is difficult to imagine that Kaka and Ronaldo will ever be worth more than the fees Real have paid, despite the duo being relatively young.

Their probable depreciation is compounded by news that Real’s buy, buy, buy policy appears to have been built upon shaky foundations. It emerged this week that Perez’s spending spree has been funded through mammoth bank loans.

The revelation comes at a time when Spain is entrenched in a bitter recession, with unemployment rising towards a frightening 20 per cent and when thousands of businesses are struggling to negotiate favourable loans when they need them most.

Even Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero has condemned Madrid’s £80m bid for Ronaldo.

“These amounts seem excessive to me. In principle, I don't like it," he said.

Perez, though, is unrepentant. 

When asked in an interview with newspaper Publico whether he thought the concerned masses had reason to worry, he said : "No. I simply believe that it is a result of ignorance.

"This is a corporate project and those who see it differently are misguided.  

"But time will prove us right and that's why I am relaxed ." 

How I hope that last sentence comes back to haunt him.