Ronaldo explains summer fling with Real. Can we please move on now?
September 5, 2008
As Cristiano Ronaldo moves ever closer to returning to action for Manchester United, the winger has moved once again to bridge the gap between the fans and himself caused by the summer transfer speculation surrounding Real Madrid and his future.
After openly admitting he wanted to play for the Spanish giants, Ronaldo now faces United’s fans and assures them he will give his all for the team. In what appears to be a republished interview in Inside United magazine, Ronaldo tries to explain why he behaved in the manner he did.
“After we’d won the Champions League I felt that I’d help win everything there was to win, I felt maybe I needed a new challenge.
“I never hid the fact that I wanted to play in Spain, at Real Madrid in particular, and I thought it could be the right moment.
“Apart from the challenge, everyone realises that Spanish and Portuguese culture and lifestyle are more similar. I also have to recognise that my family would welcome the change,”
“The chance of being an hour’s flight from my family was very attractive. The people at United, particularly the manager, understood my reasons.
“What I said publicly, which was maybe a little naive, I take total responsibility for. I just said what I thought: I have a dream of playing at Real and I thought it was time to move on.
“I knew Real were interested in me and they had, allegedly, made a substantial offer. For a while, I wanted United to accept. If we hadn’t been European champions, I probably wouldn’t have thought about going to Madrid. And another thing - I never wanted to leave against United’s will.
“I’m 100 per cent professional and have always given my heart and soul to this club. If one day I leave, I want to do it knowing I did everything I could to help the club win as much as possible.”
There is little room for doubt regarding the winger’s commitment and desire to win. No matter what team he plays for, winning is priority number one and given the player’s efforts to recover from an ankle operation way ahead of schedule, I would say he is raring to go and give his all this season.
If the last transfer window showed us anything it is that players have their futures in their hands. Real Madrid wanted to keep hold of Robinho but the player publicly stated his intention to leave (at every opportunity) and pushed through a deadline day transfer to Manchester City. Robinho even went so far as to say he would strike if he didn’t get what he wanted. Dimitar Berbatov’s behaviour towards Spurs was anything but respectful. He was unavailable for Spurs’ opening games of the season because his “head was not right” and was criticised by practically all of his teammates as he sulked about White Hart Lane trying to get a move to United. Let’s not forget Emmanuel Adebayor’s commendable effort to get a bumper pay rise from Arsenal with the threat of moving abroad.
In modern football, this sort of behaviour is becoming “the norm” and by these standards, Ronaldo is almost a saint. He never insulted the club or the staff, he didn’t demand anything from the club nor did he hand in a transfer request. What he did do, was to have his head turned by the money and glamour of playing for the team he has dreamed about playing for since he was a young boy. At least he is honest. Surely that’s not the worst crime to commit?
More that may interest you
- Real Madrid “surprised” by Fergies comments, more spin on the way- Ramon Calderon - What a w*****!
- Are the Glazers ready to do business over Ronaldo?
- Chelsea in new bid for Robinho
