Madrid  - Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero was critical Wednesday of Real Madrid's summer spending spree.

When asked by television channel Cuatro his opinion of Real planning to spend a world record 96 million euros (132.88 million dollars) on Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo, Zapatero said that the fee was "excessive."

Zapatero qualified his comments by saying that he was not "the most appropriate person" to pass judgement on Real, because of his well-known affinity for European champions Barcelona.

"I say it as I feel it," said Zapatero.

"Real Madrid say that they will make it (the Ronaldo purchase) pay off... The truth is that if football did not have so many people that followed games on television and that went to the stadiums, then surely we would not see these sums".

He added that "in principle, I do not like this, but if this happens it is because it (football) has an evident social power."(dpa)