England international Woodgate eyes Real trophies

England international defender Jonathan Woodgate has his eyes fixed on a hatful of trophies for new club Real Madrid.

Leaving fans in no doubt as to what he wanted to achieve with the Spanish giants, Woodgate said: "My coming here is because I think I am joining a team that can be in the fight for all the trophies."

"There is still a lot of room left in the trophy cabinet. We can set an unlimited number of them," Woodgate told www.realmadrid.com when asked how many trophies he was targeting.

Woodgate said he would be out of action for up to three weeks with a thigh injury he picked up playing for Newcastle against Chelsea in April, but that had not deterred Real from signing him.

"There has been no problem in the medical checkup and I hope I will be in full shape to play all the tournaments of the season."

The central defender said he was in awe of Real's playing staff.

"They are all world top-class footballers. Zidane, Figo, Beckham, Ronaldo - they are all playing top-level football, their football is just amazing and I would like to play at that same level."

"I am a defender and I love defending and doing my job. Raul, Morientes and Ronaldo have to score goals, but my job is different. I hope I can do it very well from the start. I can't wait to begin, honestly. I like to take on responsibilities and I hope I live up to the demands of this team."

"It is something unbelievable for me to play in this team. I have not had time to take in such excitement. This is a most important moment in my life. I am very happy and grateful to Real for having brought me here."

Woodgate was presented with a Real Madrid shirt by club legend Alfredo Di Stefano earlier Saturday before being presented to waiting photographers and fans.

He has agreed a four-year deal with an option for an extra year and the fee is believed to be between 20 and 22 million euros.

Woodgate arrived in Madrid on Thursday night on a flight from Munich where he had a consultation with a German specialist over the thigh injury which has sidelined him since April.

He has suffered with various injuries during his time at Newcastle, playing only 37 of the 128 games the Magpies have played since his move from Leeds.

And Real doctor Juan Carlos Hernandez told Radio Marca: "The medical took more than three hours.

"Apart from a normal medical, the player arrived with a small injury for which he is still being treated and we wanted to look at it carefully. There was no other problem aside from the injury but it still requires treatment."

"We estimate that he will need another three to four weeks before he can start training with the rest of the squad."

"The injury is to the thigh muscle in his left leg and can be complicated, so we will have to give it a little time to heal."

Woodgate joins fellow England stars David Beckham and Michael Owen at the Spanish giants.

Magpies boss Bobby Robson last night insisted Woodgate was heading for Madrid with his blessing despite admitting he did not want him to leave.

"This is an extreme, exceptional offer which basically we had to take," he said. "The offer has come in and the player has got wind of it. I don't blame Jonathan in a way because he's going to arguably the biggest club in the world, I think, at this moment."

"The power of Figo and Ronaldo, Zidane, and then Beckham and now Owen and now Woodgate - if you were in his shoes, what would you do?"

"No one is pleased that he's gone because we know what we've lost. At his best, he's the best in the country."