Oranje starlets add zest to Madrid

Wesley Sneijder and Royston Drenthe are looking forward to a new Dutch revolution at Real Madrid CF after completing their transfers to the Santiago Bernabéu last night.

Still looking
The 23-year-old playmaker Sneijder was unveiled alongside the 20-year-old wing-back after their respective €27m and €14m moves from AFC Ajax and Feyenoord. Both men have penned five-year contracts and will make up an attacking Dutch triumvurate for the Spanish champions with striker Ruud van Nistelrooy. If reports are to be believed they could be joined by Chelsea FC winger Arjen Robben while, not to be outdone, Valencia CF have shown firm interest in Rafael van der Vaart.

Barcelona example
Sneijder hopes the Dutch colony will help Madrid repeat the success enjoyed by arch-rivals FC Barcelona when they boasted Netherlands greats such as Johan Cruyff and Ronald Koeman. "Real Madrid have now got Dutch players and I hope they will lead the team to victory as they did at Barcelona," he said. "I'm not the right person to tell Real Madrid to buy Robben as well, but he is a great player and maybe in the future I will play with him here at Real Madrid."

'Pressure'
Drenthe, an attacking left-sided player in the mould of Roberto Carlos, was the outstanding player at the UEFA European Under-21 Championship in June as the Jong Oranje retained their title on home soil. "I will play wherever the coach wants me to, he's the boss and I will do as he wants," said for the former Feyenoord man. "As a footballer you have to be prepared for anything; as a Real Madrid player you have to put up with a great deal of pressure."

Sevilla tie
Both players could make their debut for Madrid in the return leg of the Spanish Super Cup against Sevilla CF at the Bernabéu on Sunday. Madrid, who have also signed Jerzy Dudek, Pepe, Christoph Metzelder and Javier Saviola this summer, lost the first leg 1-0.