Are the Glazers ready to do business over Ronaldo?
July 17, 2008
Spanish newspaper Marca had their big wooden spoon out again today claiming that United are finally ready to sit down with Real Madrid and thrash out a transfer deal for Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Spanish sports paper claim the Glazers have “agreed to the operation” for fear Ronaldo’s value will decrease rapidly should he stay with the Red Devils. This is all apparently from sources close to the affair although a spokesman for the Glazers dimissed the reports as “complete nonsense”.
It is believed Real Madrid will offer around £67 million for the Winger and with the player wanting out and no other big money offers on the table, reports are beginning to suggest a move to Madrid is getting closer. That said, it is worth bearing in mind that newspapers in Spain, Marca in particular, have regularly reported that a deal will be done for the Portuguese International. They are desperate for it.
Yesterday, Wesley Sneijder told of concerns from within the Real dressing room regarding the financial package Ronaldo may be offered:
“It would be bad for the squad if one player had a much higher salary than the rest. It would not matter to me, but I know that there are other players that would not like that.”
But it isn’t just about the money; Sneijder believes Real Madrid have an equal for Ronaldo already and any signing would be surplus to requirements.
“I want Robinho to stay with Madrid because I think that he is almost the same as Cristiano Ronaldo. I do not think that Madrid need to sign anyone. In the final games of last season we were very solid and the team showed it has grown a lot. Maybe the only thing we do need is to sign a forward”
Was Cristiano Ronaldo ‘Tapped Up’?
June 11, 2008
Manchester United reported Real Madrid to FIFA on Monday for their unacceptable pursuit of Cristiano Ronaldo which led to Reals President, Ramon Calderon to publicly challenge United to back up their claims.
If all the media coverage and the quotes coming from the Madrid hierarchy werent enough, The Sun Newspaper have today publicisied pictures they took less than five months ago of Ronaldo with Walter Di Salvo, A fitness coach of Real Madrid.
This picture was apparently taken in Rome in January this year and The Sun claim that the pictures will be passed on to Manchester United for their dossier on events. Ronaldo was over in Italy on a two day break and it is unclear at this stage exactly how the meeting came to happen, no doubt Ronaldo and his agent had some input.
Cristiano Ronaldo, who said what today?
June 6, 2008
The circus around Ronaldo continues today with the worlds press running with the story published by Terra yesterday. We have doubts over the authenticity of these latest quotes but it hasnt stopped the world voicing their opinions.
Heres todays who said what about Ronaldo
Ramon Calderon
For Madrid it is an honour to know that a player like him thinks that playing at Real Madrid would be good. We are proud to know that he would like to be with us.
Dolores Aveiro (Cristiano Roanldos mum)
He is fine where he is. Only God knows the future, but it’s certain that he will continue in Manchester.
Ruud van Nistlerooy
“He’d be an important signing for Madrid because this is a club which signs the best players in the world, and that’s what Cristiano is.
“Cristiano could bring a lot of things to this club. He’s young, he has everything and a long sporting career ahead of him.
“For Madrid he would be a great signing.”
Rio Ferdinand
This team can get better but we need it to stay together. We have worked hard to get to the position we are in and want to build on the success we have had. That means keeping all the players at the club.”
Manchester United
Our position remains unchanged. We made our position clear last week that Cristiano Ronaldo has a contract with this club and is not going to be sold.
Ronaldo to Real Madrid, come on, we’ll give you £220,000 a week
May 26, 2008
With Euro 2008 just around the corner, the chances of this Cristiano Ronaldo/Real Madrid saga being sorted in the next couple of weeks are slim to say the least. That wont stop the press, pundits or �family friends� talking about it and it certainly wont shut Real Madrid up.
The Spanish media is full of this story at the moment and what is perhaps more disturbing, the Portuguese media are running the story and claim that Ronaldo is ready to leave. Many journalists in Portugal believe that Cristiano has completed his training at Old Trafford, reached the pinnacle of his career and basically �achieved it all� at Manchester United. He has won the Premiership more than once and after the Champions League final victory in Moscow, what else is there?
Ronaldo has always insisted it is a dream of his to play in Spain but also recently said “not all dreams come true”. What is for certain is that Ronaldo will make his decision AFTER the Euros. If you need some positive news, Ronaldo is recently quoted as saying his club will be happy with the decision he makes. The killer question now has to be does he mean happy he’s staying or happy financially? I seriously hope the former!
According to Sky Sports News, Real Madrid are prepared to make Ronaldo the highest paid payer at the club (and in the world) with weekly wages in excess of £220,000 which dwarfs the measly £120,000 a week he is getting now. I know footballers have a relatively short career and like to earn as much as they can, but surely once you hit the £pound;5 million a year mark, money becomes irrelevant? I believe Cristiano Ronaldo is a football player who loves playing football and I don’t think the money will be a factor in his decision to move.
One thing is clear, if Ronaldo does decide to stay, we will be going through this sage every year until he leaves.
Real Madrid “surprised” by Fergies comments, more spin on the way
May 25, 2008
Real Madrid president, Ramon Calderon, claims that in their pursuit of Cristiano Ronaldo Real Madrid have conducted themselves “exquisitely” and says he is “really surprised” by the stinging criticisms aimed towards his club by Sir Alex Ferguson. Fergie claimed Real Madrid had no morals and that they would never have the moral integrity of other top flight clubs. Calderon said, “I am really surprised to hear what he said about us. I don’t understand Ferguson. Real Madrid have conducted themselves exquisitely in this whole affair with Cristiano Ronaldo”. Yeah right!
Despite Manchester Uniteds insistence that Ronaldo is not for sale, the staff at Real Madrid have repeatedly expressed their desire to bringing the Portuguese winger to the Bernebaeu and reports in the Spanish media suggest Robinho is being lined up as a makeweight in any deal.
Apparently, Robinho is preparing himself for a move away from Madrid with a number of clubs tipped to bid for the winger. Robinho himself has added fuel to the fire by claiming Chelsea have a bid on the table and that he would be happy to play in London. The move is far from a done deal however as there are a host of other top flight clubs interested, including Manchester United.
No morals at the Bernabeu- No means no
May 23, 2008
Calculated it may be, but Fergie has blasted Real Madrid today saying they have no morals and reveals it is not just the Galacticos that are interested in Cristiano Ronaldo. Sir Alex has angrily accused the Real Madrid hierarchy of deliberately trying to unsettle the player.
In a press conference earlier today, Alex Ferguson hinted that Barcelona had also been in touch regarding the Portuguese wingers availability and said:
“In terms of great clubs, clubs with great moral issues like Barcelona have far better moral issues than Real Madrid will ever have.
“We know Real Madrid are not the only club with an interest in Ronaldo but they are not saying so.
“Do you not think we’ve not had many interests from the big clubs in Europe about our best players? Of course. But they don’t get into the nonsense that they get into. And they’ve no moral issues at all. They think that they can ride roughshod over everyone but they won’t do it with us.”
Ferguson insisted Ronaldo was wanted at Old Trafford and he would do everything possible to keep him. Using Ruud van Nistelrooy and David Beckham as examples, Fergie pointed out we sold them because we wanted to.
