Zidane is world's most expensive soccer player

MADRID, JULY 10. Zinedine Zidane became the world's most expensive soccer player when he completed his move from Juventus of Italy to Spain's Real Madrid on Monday in a deal reportedly $65 million.

Neither Zidane nor Real Madrid president Florentino Perez would confirm the amount but sources close to the club's directors said that Juventus would receive around $58 million with the remainder being pocketed by Zidane's agent Alain Migliacio.

The transfer has shattered the 10-billion-Peseta ($ 50 million) world record Real Madrid itself set when it acquired Luis Figo from Barcelona a year ago.

Perez introduced the 29-year-old midfielder, often called the world's best, in a brief ceremony at the team's training headquarters. Zidane had earlier signed a four-year contract with an option for a fifth season, which will earn the Frenchman about $ 5 million per season, according to media reports.

Perez noted that soccer's governing body FIFA last year voted Real Madrid the best team in the 20th Century. ``That is like saying the best team in history,'' Perez said. ``The world's best team must have the world's best players, and the universality of Real Madrid fits in perfectly with the universality of Zinedine Zidane,'' he added.

Real Madrid has won the Champions League eight times, most recently after the 1999-2000 season. In addition to other honours, Real Madrid has also won the Spanish league title 28 times, including the season that just ended.

Zidane said that after five years with Juventus he had decided it was time for a change in his career and he wanted to have a shot at the powerful Spanish league. ``It's an honor to come to Real Madrid. I've been waiting eagerly for this moment,'' Zidane said, speaking in French.

However, in his eagerness, Zidane inadvertently created a moment of mirth by breaking the microphone on the presentation stage. After running repairs had been completed, it was clear though that his motivation for moving to Spain was not purely financial. By moving to Real, Zidane was apparently also looking to satisfy a request from his Spanish wife to return home.

He is also desperate to achieve success on international stage with his new club after twice being on the losing side in the Champions League final with Juventus, in 1997 and 1998, and also losing a UEFA Cup final with Bordeaux in 1996. ``I want to achieve more in the next four years with Real Madrid than I did in my five years with Juventus,'' Zidane added.

Symbolically, Real Madrid's honorary president Alfredo di Stefano presented Zidane with a white team jersey with his new number: 5, the former number of Real Madrid legend and former club captain Manuel Sanchis, who retired at the end of last season.

Newspapers said that like Figo and star striker Raul Gonzalez, Zidane would have a buyout clause of 30 billion Pesetas ($ 151.5 million) in his contract. The Spanish sports daily Marca said Zidane would earn around one billion Pesetas ($ 5 million) per season, putting him in the same pay bracket as Figo and Raul Gonzalez.

However, the honour of being the best paid player in Spain still remains with Barcelona's Rivaldo, who is believed to earn around $ 6 million per year from the Catalan club.

Zidane, known as Zizou, was the star of France's winning team at the 1998 World Cup and was elected FIFA Player of the Year. The transfer marks an about-face by Juventus, whose general manager Luciano Moggi had until two weeks ago insisted that Zidane must stay until his contract expires in 2005.

The transfer is seen in Italy as a way for Juventus to raise cash and revamp itself after the 25-times Italian league champions finished in second place the last two seasons.

Fans put their shirts on Zidane

Meanwhile, passionate fans of real Madrid are playing a small part in helping ease the financial burden of seeing their beloved team splash out a world record transfer fee for Zidane.

Over 300 replica shirts bearing the name of the French international, and his new number five, were snapped up by eager fans here within minutes of Zidane moving to Real.

However, Figo is still top of the charts as far as the shirt business is concerned - club shops sold 300,000 shirts bearing his name last season, while the popularity of Raul accounted for 150,000 sales.

The sales of such items are responsible for a major income into the club's coffers at Real Madrid with each shirt selling for $57.

- AP & AFP

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