La Liga 2007-2008: Arjen Robben and Gabriel Heinze Join Real Madrid

Real Madrid fans can now feel relax. Performance of Real Madrid in the last few matches was not satisfactory. Real Madrid is the present champion of La Liga but their poor performance in recent matches hurt their fans and they were not in a relaxed mood ahead of the La Liga 2007-2008 season. However, now Real Madrid fans and officials may feel better because Real Madrid has completed two speculated transfers of Dutch striker Arjen Robben and Argentine defender Gabriel Heinze.

Having suffered a crushing defeat to Sevilla in the second leg of Spanish Super Cup 2007, Real Madrid club officials held a meeting immediately and there they took the decision of recruiting some new faces in Real Madrid. Arjen Robben is a brilliant striker and he has joined Real Madrid from Chelsea where Arjen Robben played 67 matches in three seasons. Real Coach Bernd Schuster earlier called for a striker who will support striker Ruud van Nistelrooy. The interesting thing is that both Robben and Nistelrooy are from Holland and both of them play in Holland national team. Robben is one of the best left wingers at this moment in the world and Real Madrid really needed a good left winger to support Ruud van Nistelrooy.

Arjen Robben came to a contract of five years with Real Madrid for which Real Madrid has to spend €36 million. This is perhaps the second highest transfer fee in the season. On the other hand, for Gabriel Heinze, Real Madrid has reportedly spent €12 million with a four year contract. Gabriel Heinze plays in left back or center back position. Heinze spent three seasons in Manchester United with whom he won last season Premiership title.

International herald Tribune reported:

The 23-year-old, whose name was chanted by some supporters as he made his appearance, read out a brief speech in Spanish.

"I have studied Spanish a little ... today, I have entered a dream world. I hope together we can win many things," Robben said.

Robben said later it was "a big relief when word came he could join Madrid."

"There were many moments when I felt I was going to Madrid the next day and then it didn't happen," he added.

The winger said he began to consider a move to Madrid when he "started not to get the confidence" he needed at Chelsea.

"You then have to go where you feel you'll be more happy," Robben said.

Real Present Ramon Calderon gave a pre-election promise that he would include Arjen Robben if he could be the president. Both Arjen Robben and Gabriel Heinze have sheer talent and skill. Now, their first assignment would be against Real Madrid’s first match of La Liga 2007-2008 season against arch rival Atletico Madrid. So, let us see how they how much they can serve for Real Madrid.