City want to pay 134 mil for Ronaldo

[KURUPTION-81]

lol this is sounding a lot like chelsea a few years back especially about wanting to be the biggest club in the world. Chelsea havent managed it, so i dont see why city will.

Dr Sulaiman Al-Fahim, the owner-elect of Manchester City, will make a record breaking bid for Cristiano Ronaldo in January.

Al-Fahim and the Abu Dhabi United Group (ADUG) are plotting to follow up the sensational capture of Robinho on transfer deadline day with the signing of Manchester United's prize asset once the transfer window re-opens next year.

"Ronaldo has said he wants to play for the biggest club in the world, so we will see in January if he is serious," Al-Fahim told Arabian Business magazine.

"Real Madrid were estimating his value at $160 million but for a player like that, to actually get him, will cost a lot more, I would think $240 million (£134.3m).

"But why not? We are going to be the biggest club in the world, bigger than both Real Madrid and Manchester United."

During the interview, conducted moments after ADUG and City signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the change of ownership, Al-Fahim also outlined his ambition to bring Liverpool's Fernando Torres and Arsenal's Cesc Fabregas to Eastlands.

He added: "We're not just going to spend money on anyone, but if we can get the biggest players in the world, and of course if the manager wants them, then we will get them."

Al-Fahim expects his group's takeover of City to have the same impact as Roman Abramovich's buy-out of Chelsea five years ago.

Chelsea have won the Premier League title twice, lifted the FA Cup once and reached the final of the UEFA Champions League since Russian Abramovich burst onto the scene at Stamford Bridge in 2003.

City have not won a trophy since picking up the League Cup in 1976, but Al-Fahim believes the funds available to manager Mark Hughes should ensure the wait for silverware will soon come to an end.

Asked how ADUG's takeover of City would compare with Abramovich's Chelsea buy-out, Al-Fahim told PA Sport: "I think it will be the same. We would like to see Manchester City fighting for trophies in every tournament.

"We don't just want Manchester City to be challenging for trophies in England, but also in the Champions League. We want them to be in for every trophy available."

City, who finished ninth in the Premier League last season, will take a potential glimpse into the future when they face Chelsea in their next league clash at Eastlands a week on Sunday.

And they will do so with Robinho in their ranks after the Brazilian's move to Eastlands in a British record deal.

The 24-year-old had been expected to move to Chelsea but the Blues refused to meet the 40 million euro asking price.

Al-Fahim will try to attend that game, and he is keen to travel to England to hold talks with the club and the Premier League in the coming days so the details of the transaction can be clarified and ironed out.

In a statement released yesterday, ADUG said the aim would be for City to compete in the Champions League in the 2009-10 campaign - a feat that would require a top-four finish this season.

However, although the club have started the season in promising form and currently sit third in the table after three games, Al-Fahim appeared to acknowledge the real hunt for trophies would begin next season.

"A place in the Champions League is quite a jump from last season, but we are ready to sit down with the manager, find out the players he would like, and bring the right players into the club," Al-Fahim added.

"This season we would like to be a lot better than last season, and we are eager for trophies next season."

Al-Fahim is also keen to explore possible new revenue streams for the club, ensuring City will not have to solely rely on the funds made available by ADUG.

"Our message to the fans would be we promise we are here to sustain the club and make Manchester City competitive for trophies at the highest level," said Al-Fahim.

"We would also like to bring in extra revenues by introducing new marketing ideas.

"Looking at the club, they have a lot of fans, they are loyal fans, and there is the opportunity to grow there. They also have a lot of history. It was all very attractive to us.

"I think the one thing that has been missing was the right person to provide the right investment."

Al-Fahim said that he plans to meet Hughes and talk over future transfer targets.

"I will come to the UK in a few days to meet the manager Mark (Hughes)," he said.

"We will sit down with him and see what it is he needs now."

Confirming that the bid to sign Bulgarian striker Dimitar Berbatov from Tottenham ahead of city rivals United was a serious one, he added: "That was genuine. It was very close but we couldn't get him, we were unlucky."

Of the takeover he said: "It might take a month, it depends on the final approval of the authorities."

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/02092008/58/premier-league-ronaldo-next-ambitious-city.html

[Elano]

you are scared 

[Sweet & Tender Hooligan]

This guy is fuckin delerious...

[wilz]

i can see it now

Man City spend more money than every other transfer fee they have ever spent combined (thats perhaps a reach) on one player. 1 year later after losing out on the Premiership and realsiing that all this money being spent has accumulated in nothing. the Owners decide to walk out leaving Man city in a mountain of debt and a huge wage bill. Can anyone say Leeds?

[bez]

Money cant buy success, period!!! You could spent billions on a team and still not reach the dizzy heights that everyone expects you to. Yeah, it helps abit, but it doesnt equal definate success.

[BANGADOSHISH!!]

ronaldo aint gona go to city lets be realistic

[da_notorious_mack]

i actually think its great that another team will have a realistic chance of breakin the top4..even more great players playin in our league and plus it pisses utd fans off its great

[Elano]

i can see it now

Man City spend more money than every other transfer fee they have ever spent combined (thats perhaps a reach) on one player. 1 year later after losing out on the Premiership and realsiing that all this money being spent has accumulated in nothing. the Owners decide to walk out leaving Man city in a mountain of debt and a huge wage bill. Can anyone say Leeds?

take a look @ chelsea......this arab got MORE money than abramovich.

[da_notorious_mack]

i can see it now

Man City spend more money than every other transfer fee they have ever spent combined (thats perhaps a reach) on one player. 1 year later after losing out on the Premiership and realsiing that all this money being spent has accumulated in nothing. the Owners decide to walk out leaving Man city in a mountain of debt and a huge wage bill. Can anyone say Leeds?

take a look @ chelsea......this arab got MORE money than abramovich.

x10


and all i can say is LMAO~@~shaun wright philips poor poor lad

[Elano]

chelsea is @ - 610 millions and abramovich still don't give a fuck

[Adam Donnelly]

I dont want us to sign Tranaldo
But no player is safe now.

It's great to be a Blue 

http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1138292711/bctid1766131616

[da_notorious_mack]

hahaha how did i know a city fan would pop up

[Mac 10 †]

hahaha how did i know a city fan would pop up

you mean "THE" city fan would pop up.

[Elano]

MANCHESTER UNITED admit they would have to consider an offer of £135million for Cristiano Ronaldo from moneybags neighbours City.

New owner Dr Sulaiman Al Fahim revealed this week he would love to take the Portuguese wing ace across town to Eastlands.

United chief executive David Gill insists they are treating it ‘with a pinch of salt’ and doubts whether the bid will ever materialise.

But if they did firm up the move, he admits it would be up to the Glazer family and manager Alex Ferguson to make the decision.

Gill said: “I can’t believe he is serious at those levels and, anyway, we are not looking to sell our best players.

“But ultimately we would discuss any offer with Alex and the owners, as that sort of money is very large for one person.

“It would take a huge amount of money to take a player like Ronaldo across the city. But that kind of decision would be up to the owners.

“But he mentioned Torres and Fabregas in the same article. I think we can remain calm, wait and see what happens over the course of the next months and years, and not worry about it too much.”

Gill hinted the club was not over impressed with the way Al Fahim has gone about naming the players he would be interested in buying.

He added: “I have never met the gentleman, So I couldn’t say for sure whether he is serious or not. But that is a fantastic amount of money and would turn the industry upside down.

“Still, it is interesting that when Alex mentioned the Dimitar Berbatov signing from Spurs in advance that complaints were made to the Premier League.

“Yet he is publicly listing a host of players he claims to want to buy.”

United almost saw their top summer target Berbatov stolen from under their noses on an eventful transfer window day.

But he is not expecting much more business to be done in January by the champions — apart from trying to strike a permanent deal for Carlos Tevez.

He added: “From a squad perspective, Alex is very comfortable with it.

“The other piece of business we will look to do is to finalise the Carlos Tevez deal.

“But the competition in the squad is now first class.”

Italian giants Juventus have also laughed off reports of a possible City swoop for their keeper Gianluigi Buffon. The Italian national No1, 30, — the most expensive keeper in the world at £32.6m — is another star coveted by City’s owners.

But Juve president Giovanni Cobolli Gigli insists no amount of money would prise Buffon away.

He said: “It’s fantasy football, This summer there was another case of fantasy football, to be precise the story of David Trezeguet to Barcelona.

“That was fantasy football, and this is the same.”