By Gary Melo
SPORTSNET.CA
TORONTO — Two of Real Madrid’s biggest summer signings could make their club debuts on Friday night when the team takes on Toronto FC in a friendly match at BMO Field.
It was confirmed Friday that Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka will be in the starting lineup for Real Madrid, while Xabi Alonso will start the game on the sidelines.
Neither Kaka or Alonso has suited up for Real Madrid in pre-season action to this point but both took part in the training session Thursday. Kaka, who was given an extended holiday break after playing for Brazil at the Confederations Cup in South Africa, joined the team for training last week while Alonso only completed his transfer move from Liverpool to the Spanish capital on Wednesday.
The two were part of a star-studded Real Madrid line-up on display in an open practice that attracted over 18,000 fans to BMO Field. The 55-minute workout offered few glimpses of what Los Galacticos are capable of, but that didn’t deter the rabid fans in attendance from cheering on every back-heel or flick of the ball, especially when provided by reigning FIFA player of the year, Cristiano Ronaldo.
While Friday’s match is classified as an international friendly, Pellegrini was quick to point out that his team must take advantage of the opportunity to do some fine-tuning ahead of La Liga season in Spain.
“First of all, evaluation,” Pellegrini said of his objectives for Friday night. “The opportunity to have the new players adapt to each other, get to meld and have the right understanding of the players on the field. Then we are going to start practising with the new tactics and the new way of playing that Real Madrid will be showing next season.”
Pellegrini is entering his first year as Real Madrid manager, but he is well aware of the expectations facing the team after failing to win any trophies in 2009. The club has spent a total of $392 million (Cdn) on eight players since the transfer period opened this summer and that has only added to the pressure of managing one of the world’s biggest football clubs.
“The responsibility for managing Real Madrid is big enough,” Pellegrini said. “Ultimately, we have to go after the championship for each and every competition we play at. The better the players and the better the squad, the happier everyone can be, coach and fans of Real Madrid.”
The Spanish club is on a two-match North American tour that will wrap up in Washington Sunday against another Major League Soccer club, D.C. United. The Madrid players may know very little about their MLS competition but that doesn’t mean they will approach the game any differently.
“There is no difference,” Madrid’s Spanish midfielder Guti said. “In the end, it’s 11 players playing against 11 players on the field. We can only expect for the result to come after a game that is played with a lot of attacking mentality, a lot of goals and to have the fans that have been expecting for this game to happen for so long to go back happy about the performance of both teams on the field.”
Friday’s match will not be the first time Toronto FC has hosted a big-name international club at BMO Field. Benfica (Portugal), Aston Villa (England) and River Plate (Argentina) have all previously made the trip in for exhibition games.
Real Madrid, however, boast the most impressive history. The Spanish club, founded in 1902, has won a record 31 La Liga titles and nine European Cups.
Last season, they finished second in the league, nine points back from champions Barcelona who also won the Copa del Rey (Spanish Cup) and Champions League title. Real Madrid kicks off the 2009-10 Spanish season on August 30 with a home tie against Deportivo La Coruna.