Originally published Sunday, July 5, 2009 at 12:00 AM

Soccer | Real Madrid boss spends to add talent

It is not often a man in a blue suit is serenaded by 40,000 screaming soccer fans. But when that man is Florentino Perez, the president...

By The New York Times and The Associated Press

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It is not often a man in a blue suit is serenaded by 40,000 screaming soccer fans. But when that man is Florentino Perez, the president of Real Madrid, and he has spent more than $220 million in the midst of a global recession to entice two of the game's grandest stars to wear the Spanish team's jersey, such a salute should not come as a surprise.

Perez, the head of one of the world's largest construction companies, shocked the sports world last month by breaking transfer records to acquire Kaka from AC Milan of Italy and Cristiano Ronaldo from Manchester United of England. He also has added Raul Albiol from Valencia of Spain and Karim Benzema from Lyon of France for another $70 million.

UEFA, European soccer's governing body, is making an effort to restrain spending. Michel Platini, the group's president, said Thursday he aimed to change entry rules for the Champions League. Teams would need to ensure player salaries and transfer fees were proportionate to their income.

Perez has turned Real Madrid into a "love them or loathe them" global brand by outspending his peers for superstars.

Major League Soccer

At Crew 1, D.C. United 1

Alejandro Moreno scored the tying goal in the 59th minute and Columbus (5-3-8) pushed its home unbeaten streak to 17 matches by getting a draw with D.C. United (5-3-9).

The Crew is 11-0-6 in its last 17 at home.

Christian Gomez of D.C. United scored in the 33rd minute.

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