New Maradona v new Pele top the Bernabeu bill (Reuters) Updated: 2005-11-18 14:05
No sooner had the Real fans started to drool at the skills of their new
signing than his star began to wane.
Real Madrid's
Brazilian Robinho reacts after being fouled during their Spanish first
division soccer match against Real Zaragoza at the Santiago Bernabeu
stadium in Madrid November 6, 2005.
[Reuters] | Real slipped to three successive
defeats, defenders appeared to wise up to the Brazilian's dizzying step-over
routine and Robinho was relegated to the bench.
FADING CONFIDENCE
His confidence faded as he admitted that adjusting to European football had
not been easy.
"It's been tough because it has been a very big change and I've barely had
time to get to know what has been a completely new world for me," said the
former Santos idol.
Some of the crueller critics began comparing him to fellow countryman
Denilson, who joined Real Betis as the world's most expensive player in 1998 but
fizzled out into one of the most costly flops in footballing history.
Real, however, are determined to protect and nurture their investment and the
young Brazilian is beginning to show sparks of brilliance once again.
Messi, unlike Robinho, has ample experience of European football.
The Argentine joined Barcelona as a 13-year-old in 2000 and went on to star
in the youth ranks at the club with his 31 goals in 38 games persuading Frank
Rijkaard to give him his senior debut in a friendly against Oporto in November
2003 at the age of 16.
Last season he appeared in the Champions League and became the youngest-ever
player to score for the first team when he clipped a delightful lob into the net
in the last minute in the 2-0 win against Albacete.
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