Home News Tallaght prepares warm welcome for Ronaldo

Tallaght prepares warm welcome for Ronaldo

Tuesday, 30 June 2009

FOOTBALL superstar Cristiano Ronaldo could sensationally make his debut for Spanish club giants Real Madrid in a friendly against Shamrock Rovers in the Southside club's new stadium in Tallaght next month. All 9,000 tickets for the Tallaght Stadium game were snapped up within a couple of hours last week despite the e60 price tag. But Hoops officials remain confident that another 1,200 tickets will become available before the July 20 game which could feature debuts by the club's most recent high profile signings. Shamrock Rovers say it hopes to squeeze in extra temporary seats on the far side of the ground where a permanent stand is currently being built. Real Madrid recently agreed to pay Manchester United £80 million (e94 million) for the 2008 World Player of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo, two days after signing the 2007 winner, Brazil's Kaka, for about £57 million (e68 million) from AC Milan. Speculation has been rife in football circles in Dublin as to whether the star attack duo will play against Rovers in the friendly. John Byrne, who is a director at Shamrock Rovers FC, said the club was delighted once again to be able to host big teams such as Real in pre-season friendlies. He explained that because Rovers had been without a permanent home ground for the last 20 years - until they found their new base in Tallaght - they had been unable to invite big European clubs to play against them. He  now hopes the club will be able to emulate their two friendlies in the 1986/87 season when they famously beat Manchester United twice in the same year at their previous home venue in Milltown. He also revealed how the club wants to lure big teams to Tallaght on an annual basis as part of their plans for a “festival of football” each summer. The Hoops are playing Newcastle United and Scottish side Hibernian in pre season friendlies next month. “We only landed at the stadium a coupe of months ago and before that we were 20 years wandering around Dublin,” he said. “We wanted to start a few new things this year, among them a festival of football for the summer. “Most leagues in Europe have their pre season around July and we will now try to bring in three clubs every year,” he said. “We will get a massive amount of publicity out of this [Real Madrid game]. Secondly we will get a few bob out of it while our players will also be able to rub shoulders with some of the top players in the world.” Commenting on speculation about whether Ronaldo and Kaka would line out for Real, he said: “Generally speaking if you look at Real in their first pre season game, they generally give their first team a run out.” Deputy Charlie O'Connor (FF) who campaigned for the new stadium described the friendly as great news for the people of Tallaght. "I look forward to the upcoming game,” he said. “I have no doubt that the Real Madrid team will get a great welcome from the community here in Tallaght.”