Roberto Carlos believes Real Madrid have no other target than to defend their FIFA Club World Cup crown in the UAE, saying it is equally as important as lifting the Champions League title for a fourth year on the trot.
The Spanish giants will travel to the Emirates in December after successfully retaining their Champions League trophy in May following a 3-1 victory over Liverpool in Kiev.
It will be the second time Real will be in the UAE in as many years after a 1-0 victory over Brazilian outfit Gremio sealed a third FIFA Club World Cup last year.
They will indeed again be favourites to triumph come December 22 at Zayed Sports City.
And Carlos insists the club will be committed to doing just that, even though they will be juggling La Liga and European aspirations.
“It is as the same level of importance of winning the Champions League because it a title,” the 45-year-old former defender told media on Saturday to promote the upcoming tournament which will be held between 12-22 December in Al Ain and Abu Dhabi.
“They have to continue winning and the FIFA Club World Cup is a very important title for a football player. The history of Real Madrid is to always win. It is important to fill up all the stadiums and not just for the semi-finals and final but for all the matches.”
Besides Real, the tournament will also see four other continental champions from Asia, Africa, North America, South America and Oceania.
UAE side Al Ain will also be part of the seven-team event after winning last season’s Arabian Gulf League. The Boss will take on Oceania champions Wellington in the play-off to reach the main round but Carlos hopes Los Blacos, who enter in the semi-final stage, meet Al Ain in the final.
“Al Ain is a team that is growing,” he added. “There are lot of Brazilian football players playing in Al Ain. It would be great to see Al Ain and Real Madrid play in the competition.”
