SPAIN’S press toasted Real Madrid’s signing of Brazilian star striker Ronaldo from Inter Milan, predicting yesterday that his arrival could turn the Spanish powerhouse into one of the world’s greatest ever soccer clubs.

　Ronaldo, who has joined Madrid on a four-year contract in a reported 45 million euros (US$44.5 million) deal, will link up with four internationally renowned players — Zinedine Zidane, Raul Gonzalez, Roberto Carlos and Luis Figo.Relishing the prospect of seeing the 25-year-old wearing a Madrid shirt — the club says he will wear number 11 — the leading daily Marca asked, “Is this the greatest team of all time?”

　Another sports daily, As, proclaimed that the side could become better than the famed Madrid team that won five successive European Cups from 1956-1960.Predicting that Madrid’s attack would be “unstoppable” and “devilish,” the newspaper suggested that fans should “just sit back and enjoy.”

　Only the Barcelona-based press, traditionally critical of Madrid, appeared to take exception to the swoop for the player who was the World Cup’s leading scorer this summer with eight goals.Lazio sells Nesta, CrespoThe speculation mounted with a report that Argentine striker Hernan Crespo had been transferred to Inter from Lazio to replace the Brazilian star.In announcing the Ronaldo deal late Saturday, the final day of the Serie A transfer period, Inter also confirmed that it had acquired Crespo.

　Also Saturday, AC Milan purchased standout defender Alessandro Nesta from Lazio for a fee of about 30 million euros (about US$30 million).The 26-year-old Nesta, a fixture on Italy’s national team, agreed to a five-year contract.Nesta, the team’s captain, has played for Lazio in each of his nine seasons as a professional, and was the most popular player among the club’s supporters.

　Milan, which signed Brazilian forward Rivaldo earlier this summer, turned to Nesta after failing to get Italy’s other star young defender Fabio Cannavaro from Parma. Cannavaro, who had been in talks with Milan and Juventus, unexpectedly joined Inter Milan earlier this month.(SD-Agencies)