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LA LIGA: MADRID REAL SIGN ROBBEN, HEINZE August 23, 2007
(SomaliNet) Real Madrid have presented Arjen Robben and Gabriel Heinze after signing the pair for a combined £32.5 million.
Robben joins from Chelsea for £24.5m, while the remainder has gone on Manchester United defender Heinze, who on Tuesday was prevented from joining Liverpool.
It takes the Liga champions' summer outlay to a massive £80m after already spending big on Pepe, Christoph Metzelder, Royston Drenthe and Wesley Sneijder. They have also picked up Javier Saviola and Jerzy Dudek on free transfers.
It could be a season of transition for Madrid, who have lost former 'Galacticos' David Beckham and Roberto Carlos, along with coach Fabio Capello. The Italian was sacked just days after leading Real on an extraordinary late-season charge to the title.
He has been replaced by Bernd Schuster, who is already under pressure after a shaky pre-season and humiliating 5-3 defeat at home to Sevilla in the Spanish Super Cup.
The signing of Robben is an important coup for club president Ramon Calderon, who has long stated his admiration for the Dutchman. His other leading transfer targets - Kaka and Cesc Fabregas - remain maddeningly elusive.
Robben had an explosive impact on the Premiership when he joined Chelsea in 2004, helping them to their first league championship in 50 years.
However, manager Jose Mourinho grew increasingly frustrated with his susceptibility to injury and inconsistent performances.
Heinze's Manchester United career was as good as over when he took the club to court in an attempt to force a transfer to arch-rivals Liverpool.
He too quickly established himself as a favourite at the club following his arrival from Paris Saint-Germain, but saw his progress impeded by injury and faded from the first-team picture.-Eurosport