Ferguson, Platini question moneybags Madrid

UEFA president Michel Platini and Manchester United coach Alex Ferguson have implicitly questioned the wisdom of Real Madrid shelling out an unprecedented 250 million euros on new players this summer following the return of chairman Florentino Perez to the helm.

Construction magnate Perez returned earlier this year for a second spell in charge having been the man under whose tutelage Real launched their “galactico” era part one with the arrival of the likes of Zinedine Zidane, Luis Figo, Ronaldo and David Beckham.

But having gone even further this time in landing 94 million-euro man Cristiano Ronaldo from Ferguson’s United, as well as Kaka from AC Milan, Xabi Alonso from Liverpool and Karim Benzema from Liverpool, Platini and Alex believe Real’s spending spree is not necessarily going to turn them into world beaters.

“Florentino Perez wants to win everything and that’s why he has snapped up so many top stars. But we will see happens in May when the the Champions League final is played in Madrid,” Platini told Saturday’s Marca sports daily.

“The history of football shows it’s not always the big players who win tournaments, added Platini, who lifted the European Cup with Juventus as a player.

Marca quoted Ferguson as telling a reporter that “even if I respect them I don’t believe in what this Real Madrid represents.”

“Clearly, all these great players are going to produce good football and will provide their supporters with great days. It’s just that (coach Manuel) Pellegrini has yet to mould a team.”