Madrid: World Player of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo has said he wouldn’t have sanctioned the sales of Angel di Maria and Xabi Alonso if he was in charge of Real Madrid.
The European champions sorely missed both departed midfielders and the injured Ronaldo as they succumbed to a shock 4-2 defeat at Real Sociedad on Sunday.
“If I was in charge, I would not do it like this, but everyone has their opinion and is free to say what they think,” Ronaldo said at a sponsor’s event on Monday.
“If the president thinks it is best for the team to sign some players and let others go then we have to respect and support his decision.”
Mexican international Javier Hernandez became Madrid’s fourth summer signing on Monday after agreeing to a season-long loan deal from Manchester United.
However, despite the arrivals of World Cup stars James Rodriguez, Toni Kroos and Keylor Navas, there was severe criticism of the club in the Spanish press for letting two of their most consistent performers in their run to the record 10th European Cup leave.
Di Maria was man-of-the-match in the Champions League final victory over Atletico Madrid, but was sold for a British transfer record £59.7 million ($98 million; Dh364 million) last week.
Alonso, meanwhile, asked to leave the club, citing a need for a new challenge at 32 years of age.
However, Ronaldo also insisted that the new players should be given time to settle in having not had much of a pre-season due to the World Cup.
“We have only been going two weeks, we don’t have to sound the alarm bells yet. We need to be calm and work hard. There are three or four new players and the World Cup will affect their physical level.
“The players arrived late and didn’t have a great pre-season. Hopefully, it is just taking a little longer to adjust, but I believe we will have a good season.”
Real face a big test on their return to action in 12 days time though as they face Atletico for already the third time this season after losing 2-1 on aggregate to Los Rojiblancos in the Spanish Super Cup.
And Ronaldo is confident he will be fit to face the La Liga champions.
“My objective is always to play in the next game. I am sure I will be there.”
Meanwhile, Hernandez, valued at €14 million ($18.4 million; Dh67.5 million) on website transfermarkt.com, passed a medical and was presented at the club’s Bernabeu stadium.
He is surplus to requirements at United as the English Premier League club have agreed to take Colombia striker Radamel Falcao on loan from AS Monaco.
“I don’t think there is a player in the world who would not say this is a dream, it would be a lie,” a beaming Hernandez told a news conference.
“I am coming to give my all so that this club can be more successful than it already is,” he added.
“I will give everything. I hope to contribute my grain of sand so that many trophies continue to come.” Hernandez joined United from hometown side Guadalajara in July 2010 but after a fine debut season, when he scored 20 goals in all competitions, he has played mostly as a substitute.
He helped Mexico reach the last 16 of the World Cup in Brazil, scoring in the 3-1 group-stage win over Croatia.
Real, who have also bought Colombia playmaker James Rodriguez and Germany midfielder Toni Kroos in the current transfer window, suffered a surprise 4-2 La Liga reverse at Real Sociedad on Sunday.
Their next outing is at home to champions Atletico Madrid on September 13, when Hernandez could make his debut.
Asked whether he would accept playing mainly as a substitute, Hernandez said he had come to Real to be “part of the squad”.
“I see it as a great opportunity, to do what I like most which is playing football,” he told reporters.
“The only thing I have in my heart is that I am grateful to those who have given me this chance.
“To be alongside the best players in the world and be able to develop and give everything to the club. I know that here 100 percent is demanded.”
Hernandez is the son of namesake Javier Hernandez, a Mexico striker who featured at the 1986 World Cup and was nicknamed ‘Chicharo’, or “pea”, because of his green eyes.
