Blatter backing for record-breaking Ronaldo deal

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has given the thumbs up to Real Madrid’s record-breaking bid for Cristiano Ronaldo, believing it shows that football is still a growth industry.

In contrast to comments from UEFA supremo Michel Platini, who described the world-record £80 million (€94m) fee for the Manchester United winger and Madrid’s recent £56m (€65m) swoop for Kaka as “excessive”, Blatter feels it is good for the game.

Speaking ahead of the Confederations Cup in South Africa, Blatter said: “It means that our product is still a good product. If this is the game of the people, they need stars. OK, it is a lot of money, but he is performing. We are in a very sensitive market nowadays because there is an economic crisis. In football, we are still in a good market.”