Real Madrid coach Juan Ramon Lopez Caro says new signing Antonio Cassano is not yet fit enough to make his Real Madrid debut.

“He arrived with a significant muscle strain and is working on a personalised programme to get him into shape so that he can perform at the level we expect from him,” Lopez Caro told reporters.

“It will take him a few days of individual training to get him to his optimum level.”

The 23-year-old striker moved to Spain from Roma on Wednesday for €5.5m.

Lopez Caro said he had not yet decided how Cassano would fit into the side.

“I see him playing in a more advanced position but we shall look at that issue when he has started to train with the rest of the players,” he added.

“I need to find the best solution for him but more importantly for the team as a whole. There is a lot of competition for places and he has to prove he is better than those who are already playing.”

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