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Rediff.com  » Sports » Ronaldo welcomes more competition

Ronaldo welcomes more competition

By Simon Baskett
January 28, 2005 10:41 IST
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Real Madrid striker Ronaldo says he would be delighted if the club were to continue signing more forwards as long as it did not stop him from keeping his place in the starting line-up.

"There's been talk about Adriano and Robinho coming here. In the end we'll have all the best forwards in the world at this club," the Brazilian international told a news conference on Thursday.

"I'm sure we'd score stacks of goals, it would be incredible. If we had Raul, Adriano, Owen and so on then that would be a major headache for the coach. Every game would end up 8-7 or 7-7.

"I'd love them all to come here, as long as they didn't steal my place," he added with a smile.

Real have admitted that they are in negotiations to sign Santos forward Robinho and have also been linked with Adriano in recent weeks, although they have denied making any approach to the Inter Milan striker.

"I can't really give an opinion because I don't know the truth of what's happening," said Ronaldo.

"Adriano is a friend and a great player. It's the same old story, though. If a player wants to leave a club, he'll leave, especially if there is a big club interested in him."

Ronaldo, who is Real's top scorer in the league with 11 goals, admitted that he had been upset about being substituted in recent matches.

"There are no untouchables here, but it always seems to be me that gets subbed. Of course, I'm not happy when it happens, no player is."

But the Brazilian paid tribute to fellow striker Michael Owen, who has strengthened his case for a place in the starting line-up with some impressive goal-scoring performances when he has come off the bench.

"He's got a fantastic record and always scores when he comes on," said the three-times World Player of the Year. "He moves well, loses defenders and everyone can see what a great player he is."

He also praised new recruit Thomas Gravesen, who joined Real from Everton earlier this month, saying that the Danish midfielder had made a big difference to the team.

"He was the sort of player the team was missing," he said. "He gives us more security at the back because we have an extra person to help the defence and he gives the forwards more freedom to attack."

Real have won all four league matches since Vanderlei Luxemburgo took over as coach at the end of last month, but they remain seven points adrift of leaders Barcelona.

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Simon Baskett
Source: REUTERS
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