World NewsAlbiol Eager to Keep It Real |
Raul Albiol admits he is chomping at the bit to start his new life at Real Madrid after completing his switch from Valencia today.
Albiol was presented in front of a few thousand fans and the media tonight after passing his medical earlier in the day and putting pen to paper on a five-year contract with Madrid.The Spain international, who Madrid have reportedly paid around £13million for, is the second new addition to have been presented this week following Kaka, while Cristiano Ronaldo is due to be unveiled on Monday.
There has also been a deal stuck for Lyon striker Karim Benzema and the likes of David Silva, Franck Ribery and Xabi Alonso are also being linked with Madrid as returning president Florentino Perez sets about realising the "spectacular project" he has planned to take the club back to the top.
It is set to be a star-studded dressing room at Madrid next season, and the 23-year-old Albiol cannot wait for it all to begin.
"To share a dressing room with the two world-class players (Ronaldo and Kaka) is an honour, but it's also the same with the other players," said Albiol, a member of Spain'sEuro 2008-winning squad last summer.
"I'm anxious to meet them all and I'm eager to start the season because we are all very excited about this project.
"Throughout my career I've had several dreams. I think that any kid who wants to play football dreams of playing for the big clubs, and Real Madrid is one of them. It was also a dream to play for Valencia, and thank God I was also able to do that."
Although there was nowhere near the estimated 55,000 spectators who turned up at the Bernabeu to welcome Kaka on Tuesday, Albiol admits he was still taken aback to see a few thousand people attend his presentation tonight.
"It's been a beautiful day for me, to be honest I never expected so many people to be in the stadium. The reception was incredible and I can only say thanks. I hope to return all this with hard work," he said.
"I'm going to defend the colours of this club until the end and, as a professional, I'm going to give it all.
"This is my first presentation and what they've done for me is amazing.
"I did not expect this reception, and it's made me feel phenomenal. It's been an incredible day. I'll never forget it."
However, Albiol, who had spent his entire career to date at Valencia save for one season on loan at Getafe, did admit it was tough to bid farewell to his hometown club.
"It's clear that the fact that I'm from Valencia means that it was not easy to leave Valencia, with is the team of my life," he said.
"But I knew what I wanted in case I left there. The interest that Real Madrid have shown is something to be very grateful for and now I'm going to try and return this confidence."
Copyright (c) 2009 Press Association
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