Spain's Real Madrid soccer club presented on Thursday its newly contracted players -- Argentine defender Gabriel Heinze and Dutch midfielder Arjen Robben.

 

Real Madrid's honorary president Alfredo Di Stefano handed over T-shirts to the two new players before 7,000 fans gathered at Madrid's Santiago Bernabeu stadium.

 

Real Madrid's president Ramon Calderon defined Heinze as "one of the best defense players in the world."

 

Real Madrid, Spain's soccer champion last season, paid 12 million euros (US$15.6 million) for Heinze to England's Manchester United soccer team and 36 million euros (US$46.8 million) for Robben to England's Chelsea soccer team.

 

Herinze said "it is a joy to dress this T-shirt. I am going to play as I have done so far. I hope that in this season we can continue to make fans happy."

 

Robben, well received by fans, said in Spanish "thanks to the club, the president and the associates for the effort and patience they have had to book me. I have entered a dream world."

 

(Xinhua News Agency August 24, 2007)