PEREZ REVEALS ZIDANE DEAL DETAILS

The initial fee for Zidane was 11,000 million pesetas (£40.03 million), however, Perez stated that this will be paid over three years, with the interest charges taken up by Real.

This will see the eventual fee rise to 12,500 million pesetas (£45.49 million), with additional commission fees of 533 million pesetas (£1.94 million) taking the total outlay close to £48 million.

Real are expecting to get some of the money back through sponsorship and shirt sales, along with a renegotiated TV deal.

Perez said: "As everyone knows what may at first appear expensive is often cheap in the long run. As well as being profitable from sporting terms, I have absolutely no doubt the Zidane deal will be profitable from the economic perspective."

Meanwhile, Rivaldo, Barcelona's Brazilian star has lauded the Zidane deal on his personal website.

"Zidane's arrival is good for Spanish football, as are the other great incoming players that other teams have signed," said Rivaldo.  "With these signings nobody can have any doubts that Spanish football has been strengthened and that it's positive for this country to have the best players in the world."

Speaking about the Real-Barca rivalry for the coming season, Rivaldo said: "Barcelona have been getting stronger too and we will see what happens in the League.

"I am happy due to this great player coming and this makes Spanish football more powerful."