Dutch soccer players Royston Drenthe and Wesley Sneijder were presented to fans on Monday as new players of Real Madrid, after completing their medicals and signing five-season contracts with the Spanish giants.

 

Speaking at the event, Real president Ramon Calderon praised each player, reviewed their careers and delivered them new team shirts, which do not yet have their names printed on the back.

 

"I am very happy to be here and to be a player for the world's greatest club. I can't wait for the moment when I will play my first match," Sneijder said.

 

Around 5,000 fans were at the stadium to welcome the new players.

 

Winger Drenthe, 20, joins from Dutch club Feyenoord for a 14 million euro transfer fee. Sneijder, 23, comes from Dutch club Ajax on a 27 million euro transfer fee.

 

Including the two Dutchmen, Real has now signed six new players at a total cost of 70 million euros, since firing former manager Italy's Fabio Capello, who had helped the team to a league title, and hiring Germany's Bernd Schuster.

 

(Xinhua News Agency August 14, 2007)