UEFA president Michel Platini has described Real Madrid's world record bid of £80 million Cristiano Ronaldo as "excessive" at a time of global financial crisis.
Platini has been supportive of plans put forward earlier this year to tighten financial regulation such as cutting excessive club debt and imposing stricter rules on player transfers. UEFA has also considered limiting the amount of revenue a club can spend on transfers and wages to around 50 per cent of revenue from ticket sales, television rights and sponsorship.
"It is very puzzling at a time when football faces some of its worst ever financial challenges," he told Reuters in a statement. "These transfers are a serious challenge to the idea of fairplay and the concept of financial balance in our competitions,"
Real Madrid recently signed AC Milan forward Kaka for a fee of around €68 million (£58 million).
