Real Madrid launch women's team

Real Madrid have belatedly decided to launch their own women's team, the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has confirmed, reports, www.sportspromedia.com/.

Real have agreed to buy CD Tacn, a Madrid-based team promoted to Liga Iberdrola - the domestic women's top-flight - at the end of last season. Spanish news outlet El Mundo reports that Florentino Perez has sanctioned a deal worth around 500,000 (US$569,775) for Tacn's licence to be transferred to Real, with the re-branded team to take up their place in the league next season.

Confirming the arrangement, Rafael del Amo, president of the RFEF women's soccer committee, told Efe: "The Federation has had something to do, we thought it was very important that the best national teams have a female team, I always jokingly told my Real Madrid friends that they would not be great without a female team. I can say they are great"

The arrangement apparently only covers the first team, with a decision on an academy dependent on development. The women's team will train and play at Real's Ciudad Real Madrid complex in Valdebebas.

Real's big rivals, Barcelona, are the top-spending club in the Spanish women's top-flight, spending close to 4 million (US$4.5 million) a year, but most club's operate on a budget closer to 500,000.