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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.

Barcelona's Argentinian player Lionel Messi looks at the ball during a training session at the Nou Camp stadium in Barcelona November 17, 2005.
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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