Huntelaar Ready For Step Up In Quality

The Dutch striker believes that he will be able to respond to the challenge of playing in la Primera after critics questioned his ability to score goals outside of the Netherlands.

Klaas-Jan Huntelaar believes that he will be able to make the step up to the Spanish league thanks to the quality of the players who'll be in the Real Madrid team with him.

The Dutch striker was presented at the Bernabéu this week after completing his big-money move from Ajax, and admitted that he was still taking it all in as he had not expected to make the switch until the summer.

Ruud van Nistelrooy's injury meant that Madrid wanted to add a quality goalscorer in the winter transfer window and made contact again with the Amsterdam club after failing to land Huntelaar before the season began.

"It is true that the Spanish league is at a slightly higher level than the Dutch one, but I will have to grow with it and will be alongside better players," he told AS. "It is something that that I will have to work on and that I think I will be able to do."

"I have spoken to a lot of people and their reaction has been very positive. They really wanted me to sign. At first I was going to come at the end of the season, but injuries meant that the transfer was moved forward."

"Now I will have to compete and to work hard to earn a place in the team."

"Last summer there were problems with Ajax, but contact was made again and the situation improved. I do not know exactly what happened, but I am very pleased to be here."

"Ruud is injured now, but he is a fantastic player. I am a different type of player, but I will do what I can. As for the goals, I do not know, but I will try to score as many as possible."

Huntelaar is pleased that he will be able to settle into his new life with the help of several compatriots at Madrid, but admits that the speed of the move has left him in a spin.

"I think that integrating into the squad will be easy because there are a lot of Dutch players here and I know some of them from Ajax. It will be a lot easier than arriving at a place where you do not know anyone," he continued.

"We will just have to see how things go and if I need help then I will ask for it."

"Everything has happened so quickly. First the deal was done, then the presentation and, obviously, it has had a great effect on me. Real Madrid is one of the biggest clubs in the world and I am very proud to play here. This is a great moment for me."

"As I have said, this is one of the biggest clubs in the world and we have to do everything to turn things around. I will have to work hard on the pitch."

Despite not being able to play for Madrid until the winter market opens in January, Huntelaar is currently injured and his recovery was something that had caused slight concern.

"I do not have much pain and my condition is not yet great. I will have recovered soon, I think in one or two weeks I will be fine," he added.

With Madrid in an apparent mini-crisis on the pitch, Huntelaar was asked if he had already been made aware of the rivalry with Barcelona, but he stated that he knew about it before joining Los Merengues.

"I know about the rivalry. I know that Barcelona are currently top, but we will have to play well and try to be champions;" he concluded.