Watzke talks up Real quality

Hans-Joachim Watzke says any Real Madrid player could earn a place in the Borussia Dortmund first team.

The two clubs will meet for the third time in Europe this season when they take to the field for the Champions League semi-final first leg on Wednesday, with the Bundesliga outfit already having beaten Real 2-1 at home and securing a 2-2 draw in Madrid during the group stage.

Speaking in an interview with Sportstudio, Dortmund chief executive Watzke admitted that any of Jose Mourinho’s players would be valued at the Westfalenstadion.

“Every Real Madrid player would fit in at Borussia Dortmund – they are all world class,” he said.

“(Cristiano) Ronaldo too, of course. However, he would have to work a little bit more in the defence.”

Dortmund are a distant second to new Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich this campaign but their European ambitions are very much intact, something Watzke attributes to the strength of the squad underpinned by their transfer policy.

“If you invest in the quality, you automatically gain depth,” he said.

“Our only limit is that we won’t agree to a monetary loan to sign players, but other than that, there are no restrictions.”