Madrid: Brazilian striker Ronaldo said his performance for Real Madrid would be the best way to respond to criticisms levelled at him by Barcelona coach Louis van Gaal.

“Van Gaal will get his answer on the field,” Ronaldo said in an interview late last night with a radio channel. Last week, the coach of Madrid’s arch-rivals attacked the Brazilian for his attitude prior to his recent $ 43.8 million move from Inter Milan.

Van Gaal accused the striker of showing a lack of gratitude to Inter, which had treated him very well despite his career-threatening right-knee injury.

Ronaldo said he had spoken about Van Gaal to his international teammate Rivaldo, whose personality clash with the Dutchman reportedly led him to leave the Catalan powerhouse for AC Milan soon after the coach’s reappointment in May.

“It’s true to say that Rivaldo did not find anything good to say about him. Van Gaal likes to appear in the press,” said Ronaldo, who played for Barcelona in 1996-97, the season before Van Gaal arrived in Barcelona.

Ronaldo, who has reportedly agreed to take a cut in the salary he received at Inter, also expressed his pleasure at having signed for the Spanish powerhouse. “I don’t care if I earn less money at Madrid than at Inter. Here I’m happy, I enjoy soccer and the climate. I can see the sun again,” he said.

Reports said the striker, who has yet to regain full fitness, is likely to make his Madrid debut either in the Champions League match with Genk on September 25 or three days later in the league match at Valladolid. “I’m going to get lots of goals. This year I have no excuse. You only have to look at the players I have around me.” (reuters)