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| Chelsea hit out at Real president | Chelsea hit out at Real president |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Chelsea have hit back at Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon's claim that their spending power may over-inflate transfer fees for other European clubs. | Chelsea have hit back at Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon's claim that their spending power may over-inflate transfer fees for other European clubs. |
| Calderon expressed concern at the huge financial loss Chelsea have made since Roman Abramovich became owner in 2003. | Calderon expressed concern at the huge financial loss Chelsea have made since Roman Abramovich became owner in 2003. |
| Calderon said: "I think it's a problem, prices are high. It's very dangerous." | Calderon said: "I think it's a problem, prices are high. It's very dangerous." |
| But Chelsea director of communications Simon Greenberg retorted: "It is an open market but sometimes we have to pay more because we are Chelsea." | But Chelsea director of communications Simon Greenberg retorted: "It is an open market but sometimes we have to pay more because we are Chelsea." |
| Interview: Chelsea communications director Simon Greenberg | |
| We are transparent about our accounts, something that can't be said for Real Madrid Chelsea director of communications Simon Greenberg | We are transparent about our accounts, something that can't be said for Real Madrid Chelsea director of communications Simon Greenberg |
| He added: "The money that we have spent has been invested into football - the majority of it. A very small amount of Roman's investment went on purchasing the club. | He added: "The money that we have spent has been invested into football - the majority of it. A very small amount of Roman's investment went on purchasing the club. |
| "The rest of it has gone into football and filtered down through football. | "The rest of it has gone into football and filtered down through football. |
| "Although we made a substantial loss last year, there were a number of one-off payments that won't be repeated this year. | "Although we made a substantial loss last year, there were a number of one-off payments that won't be repeated this year. |
| "We run ourselves as much as we can as a plc and we are completely transparent about our accounts - which is something that cannot be said for many top European clubs, including, I would say, Real Madrid." | "We run ourselves as much as we can as a plc and we are completely transparent about our accounts - which is something that cannot be said for many top European clubs, including, I would say, Real Madrid." |
| Calderon is frustrated as he believes Real will have to spend more to attract the world's best players to the Bernabeu. | Calderon is frustrated as he believes Real will have to spend more to attract the world's best players to the Bernabeu. |
| "Abramovich is paying a lot of money for players but we have to compete with it," said Calderon. | "Abramovich is paying a lot of money for players but we have to compete with it," said Calderon. |
| "In his case, he admitted to having lost nearly £150m last season. | "In his case, he admitted to having lost nearly £150m last season. |
| "You just don't know how long those people are going to stay in soccer. If somebody decides to leave, it's going to be a problem." | "You just don't know how long those people are going to stay in soccer. If somebody decides to leave, it's going to be a problem." |