West Coast Connection Forum
Lifestyle => Sports & Entertainment => Topic started by: Elano on June 17, 2008, 05:27:53 AM
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Cristiano Ronaldo has confided to friends that he is prepared to do “whatever it takes” to engineer a transfer to Real Madrid this summer. Manchester United maintain that they will not sell their most prized asset under any circumstances, but Ronaldo is dismissive of his club's views and regards his planned world-record transfer to Real as an inevitability.
Ronaldo appeared almost ambivalent about his future when, in a statement on June 4, he suggested that he would be happy to stay at United if no fee was agreed with Real, but the depth of his determination to leave Old Trafford is now becoming clear.
A source close to the player said last night that he had made clear he would do everything in his power to persuade United to sell. That could mean anything from submitting a formal transfer request to refusing to report for pre-season training, but his next step will be to issue a further statement, outlining his intentions, as soon as Portugal's participation in the European Championship finals is over.
The end of the tournament a week on Sunday - or Portugal's elimination, if that happens first - will trigger an escalation in the battle for Ronaldo, with Real planning to make a formal offer of about £60million.
United maintain that they will not even consider negotiating with Real this summer, but Ronaldo appears unwilling to contemplate another season at Old Trafford.
Sir Alex Ferguson has been convinced that Ronaldo is merely flirting with Real in the hope of securing a lucrative new contract, but, even if United offered the forward a significant advance on the £120,000-a-week deal that he signed only 16 months ago - something that they maintain they will not do - he would, in his present state of mind, reject it. He has been seduced not only by the riches on offer in Madrid, but also by the idea of playing for Real, whom he considers a bigger club than United, and by the lifestyle he would enjoy in Spain, having never been effusive about life in Manchester.
Ronaldo will go on a three-week holiday immediately after Euro 2008 in the hope that a deal can be agreed while he is away, but, with United insistent that they will not sell, the likelihood remains that he will be required in Manchester for pre-season training in late July.
The news yesterday that Fifa, the world governing body, will take no action against Real came as a further blow. United complained to Fifa last week over a series of public statements apparently expressing interest in Ronaldo. “No breach of contract appears to have occurred yet,” Fifa said in a statement.
Regardless of Ronaldo's plans, Ferguson plans to strengthen the squad. A bid for Dimitar Berbatov, the Tottenham Hotspur forward, has been mooted, with Louis Saha likely to be sold or sent out on loan.
source: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/manchester_united/article4152494.ece
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what an asshole
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what an asshole
yup. It's a shame footballers are allowed to behave like this. A contract is wothless paper these days because footballers shit on them.
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Right now i can't understand how he can prefer real madrid over manchester utd....
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Right now i can't understand how he can prefer real madrid over manchester utd....
the only logical reason that comes to my mind is more $$$. Or the English food.
PS: Good that you give sources now ;)
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i really hope this is not true :-\
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the dude is just a spoiled brat.
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the dude is just a spoiled brat.
so true...
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REAL LOLLY FOR RONALDO
REAL MADRID are ready to bankroll Cristiano Ronaldo should he stay away from Old Trafford when the players report back for training next month.
Ronaldo spoke at Portugal’s camp yesterday, but he refuses to discuss his future until their campaign is over. If he turns up at Manchester United on time, there will be no problem.
But given the pressure on him to decide whether or not he moves to Spain, he may keep away while his career is sorted out. Under new regulations, Premier League clubs can inflict bans of up to six weeks.
If Ronaldo refused to turn up on schedule after his three-week holiday following Euro 2008, then United are likely to levy a fine of £1million on a player they pay £125,000 a week. Yet Real are ready to cushion the blow.
Such is their obsession with luring Ronaldo to the Bernabeu they would not think twice about offering to reimburse him for any fines handed out so long as they eventually get their man.
Having offered him £300,000 a week, a staggering £15m a year, paying £1m in fines would be considered loose change by the club. But such an attempt to circumvent the rules will inflame United boss Sir Alex Ferguson even further.
The Daily Express has led the way in breaking the story of Real’s initially hush-hush but determined approach for Ronaldo dating back to January.
FIFA’s feeble response to United’s complaint about Real’s tapping-up of the player has done little to dissuade them from continuing their indirect dealings for Ronaldo, who has four years left to run on his United contract.
It has become an accepted part of the dynamics of football transfers that players are sounded out, and negotiations are commonplace between agents and clubs.
FIFA know they would need to see definitive hard evidence before charging a club like Real and so far the file lodged by United is merely a succession of public statements made by the Real hierarchy about their desire to sign midfielder Ronaldo.
That does not amount to documentary or photographic evidence that a deal has been done, even though we have known for months that talks have been ongoing.
Real know such sums can be cost-effective in the long run as they have already estimated Ronaldo will sell £30m worth of shirts per season. And the player would keep half of that.
(thedailyexpress)
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:raisetheroof:
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lmao @ the united fans of this forum ("cristiano ronaldo is happy @ manchester and he will stay with us" ) :D
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wow. Real should be unstoppable next season, if this actually happens.
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where is 'kuruption81' ? ;D
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Real is scum.
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where is 'kuruption81' ? ;D
Here my italian friend.
At the end of the day its irrelevant what Ronaldo wants, he has a contract for 4 more years. Manchester United own him and it will be them who decide if he is sold and at the moment they have once again re iterated that he is not for sale. So i guess Ronaldo wont have his "dream" move, the club have stated numerous times that he wont be sold, ferguson has said this and also the glazers so there is no disagreement, they will look very stupid if they change there mind.
I expect him to be with us for one more season and then move on. i dont think he wil strike as he wants to play football and its not like he hates united lol
Once fergie has a word and he is away from the portugease camp and scolari who has a vested interested in him leaving united then i expect him to stay. He doesent need to be persuaded as its not up to him, Reals best chance is to come back in 2 years when he can run down his deal or we can sell before losing a lot of money.
I hope united stand firm.
"Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson says the club would rather put Cristiano Ronaldo in the stands than sell him to Real Madrid.
Ferguson has met the Glazer family, who own the club, and said: "Their attitude is 'To hell with them'.
"They'd sit a player in the stand, I'm telling you, absolutely no doubt about it, just to prove a point."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/7429756.stm
i wouldnt be against that either, no player is bigger than manchester united, and if he does move on its not the end of the world. There will be a new ronaldo, we have always replaced those players who were so called irreplacable cantona, beckham, RVN, Keane, Stam etc
Real are scum though they have no morals and thats part of the reason i hope we wont sell, if Ronaldo wants to go to an inferior team and league then so be it.
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thats what i was saying to a friend of mine...i rather put Ronaldo in the stands. United might lose money...but it would stop other players from doing such stupid things agian
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(http://img.thesun.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00513/sport-RONALDO_513772a.jpg)
REAL MADRID have warned Manchester United they will "pay what is necessary" to sign Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Spanish giants are desperate to secure the services of the 23-year-old Portuguese ace.But United have vowed to keep hold of their superstar, insisting he is not for sale.
Real are rumoured to be willing to pay up to £80million for Ronaldo.That would smash the world record £48m fee Real paid for Zinedine Zidane in 2001.
But Bernabeu boss Bernd Schuster claims money is no object for Ronaldo and he will get his man.The German said: "When you have a player of such quality nobody wants to let him go."
"For a player of his kind of level, we must pay what is necessary. "Because, for us what is most important is to win the Champions League and he can help us achieve that."
Real and France legend Zidane has warned Ronaldo that there will be huge expectation if he does move to Madrid.
He said: "If he will come to Madrid it will be quite an amount, they are ready to pay more than for me and this will lift the weight from my shoulders.
"He had a great season and I think the fact that he and Portugal got knocked out at the quarter-finals doesn't mean anything because they were up against a great Germany team.
"It doesn't say anything about the merits during the year. "He is not scared of his new Real Madrid engagement and every time they wanted good players they got them.
"Now it depends on his personal plans, if he wants to play there he will play there."
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lol real are so desperate , either put up or shut up.
Either way i hope fergie tells them where to go and if he does decide ronaldo isnt worth the hassle .i hope he picks up the phone and calls barcalona offering them Ronaldo in exchange for 50/60 mil and ronaldhino and eto.
Yet refuses any offer real make no matter the amount.
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on dutch tv they said sneijder will be included in the deal.
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on dutch tv they said sneijder will be included in the deal.
sneijder said the other day he didnt want to go anywhere
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The funny thing is all these sources are from newspapers, and you know how much shit they talk. I'm not saying they are never right, but most the time, they type up a load of shit.
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(http://img.thesun.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00513/sport-RONALDO_513772a.jpg)
REAL MADRID have warned Manchester United they will "pay what is necessary" to sign Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Spanish giants are desperate to secure the services of the 23-year-old Portuguese ace.But United have vowed to keep hold of their superstar, insisting he is not for sale.
Real are rumoured to be willing to pay up to £80million for Ronaldo.That would smash the world record £48m fee Real paid for Zinedine Zidane in 2001.
But Bernabeu boss Bernd Schuster claims money is no object for Ronaldo and he will get his man.The German said: "When you have a player of such quality nobody wants to let him go."
"For a player of his kind of level, we must pay what is necessary. "Because, for us what is most important is to win the Champions League and he can help us achieve that."
Real and France legend Zidane has warned Ronaldo that there will be huge expectation if he does move to Madrid.
He said: "If he will come to Madrid it will be quite an amount, they are ready to pay more than for me and this will lift the weight from my shoulders.
"He had a great season and I think the fact that he and Portugal got knocked out at the quarter-finals doesn't mean anything because they were up against a great Germany team.
"It doesn't say anything about the merits during the year. "He is not scared of his new Real Madrid engagement and every time they wanted good players they got them.
"Now it depends on his personal plans, if he wants to play there he will play there."
However, Calderon insists the Spanish giants will never pay £80million to bring a player to Santiago Bernabeu.
"There is no 'Cristiano Ronaldo case' because Manchester do not want to sell," he told Marca.
"In any case, Real Madrid will never pay 100million euros for anybody."
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http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11667_3730046,00.html
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No player is worth £80 m.
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No player is worth £80 m.
i remember when people said no one was worth 1 million !!!
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No player is worth £80 m.
i remember when people said no one was worth 1 million !!!
Haha, the good old days?
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i know this is stating the obvious but united are european champions for gods sake. if ronaldo moves he obviously has little regard for footballing pedigree, he's just a greedy crybaby. real aren't unbeatable and all that just because they buy the best players for the highest price - the real strong sides have swept then aside in recent years. as much as i hate to say it - united are definitely one of those real strong sides at the moment. i just wish they'd go all out with the finances instead of always buying one massive player at a time. whatever works though.
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Cristiano Ronaldo must stay and make us the greatest says Rio
Rio Ferdinand wants to be part of the greatest Manchester United team of all time - but insists Sir Alex Ferguson's side must hold on to Cristiano Ronaldo to achieve that.
Ronaldo's future is uncertain, with United's star player keen to fulfil his dream of a move to Real Madrid, despite Fergie's and the Old Trafford hierarchy's insistence that the winger is not for sale at any price.
After their Premier League and Champions League double last season, Ferdinand believes United are on the brink of establishing themselves as the most successful side in the club's illustrious history.
But Ferdinand, in line to take over the United captaincy from Gary Neville next season, believes the current group of players will find it much harder to achieve their ambitions if £70million-rated Ronaldo leaves.
"It's simple for me and the rest of the lads - we hope Ronnie stays," said Ferdinand. "As well as being a United player, I'm a fan and my heart is with the club. So in that sense it's obvious what I'm going to say.
"We all want him to stay - players and fans alike. But it's up to Ronnie, the manager and the board. They'll decide what happens. As players we can't get involved.
"The most important thing is for this team and this squad to stick together. If we can do that and add to what we've got, then we've got a great chance of sustained success.
"In football these days you never know what's around the corner. But if we can keep our best players and the core of the side, then we can go on to great things."
The incentive for United ahead of the new campaign, as well as claiming a third straight Premier League title, is to successfully defend the Champions League trophy they won after beating Chelsea in a penalty shoot-out.
For all their brilliance, United's European Cup-winning sides of 1968 and 1999 never managed to repeat their success in Europe, which is something Ferdinand believes is within the grasp of the current squad.
"The incentive for this group of players is to be the best team Manchester United has ever had," said Ferdinand. "If we could do that, it would be an incredible achievement.
"United won the European Cup in 1968 and 1999, but they never managed to do it again.
We have a great chance to be the first United team to win it for a second time.
"With our manager's desire and will to win, as well as the great players we've got, we know that's possible. But it's all very well saying it. We've got to go out there and do it.
"As soon as we'd won the Champions League, I was already thinking about next season, who we're going to buy and what the new season will bring," said Ferdinand.
"If you rest on your laurels and on the success you've achieved, then you're a fool and you don't deserve it.'
(mirror)
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Fans turn backs on Cristiano Ronaldo after outbursts
If Manchester United supporters seemed prepared to give Cristiano Ronaldo the benefit of the doubt as question marks surfaced at the start of the summer about the Portugal forward’s commitment to the club, such backing appeared to have all but evaporated last night as fans lost patience with a player who has gone from hero to zero in seven bewildering weeks.
United’s following have clung wishfully to the hope that comments attributed to Ronaldo affirming his desire to move to Real Madrid have at best been fabricated, at worst misconstrued or misinterpreted. But the player’s alarming outburst this week has left no one in any doubt about his intentions.
Ronaldo’s badgering to leave has been reason enough for resentment, but it is his claims in a television interview during which he echoed the comments of Sepp Blatter, the Fifa president, that his situation at Old Trafford is tantamount to slavery that has most outraged the United faithful and strengthened the feeling that there is no way back for a player who scored 42 goals last season.
As many fans wrestle with rising ticket prices during a sharp economic downturn, the attitude of a player who earns £120,000 a week — discounting the millions he receives from endorsement and sponsorship deals — likening his position to that of a slave has bred widespread contempt.
Much of the ire by United supporters in recent seasons has been directed at the Glazer family and the perceived never-ending commercialisation of the club, but the overwhelming message to the American owners from fans yesterday appeared to be to cash in on Ronaldo while they can. Real are thought to be prepared to stump up in excess of £60 million for the player. The consensus on message boards was that United should “bleed Real dry” for every penny the club can get, although a vocal minority called for Sir Alex Ferguson, the manager, to let the player “rot in the reserves”, a threat that the Glazer family made some weeks ago.
Redcafe.net, one of the leading United forums, has received more than 15,000 posts on Ronaldo, most of which depicted in often graphic detail the extent of the deterioration of the player’s relationship with the fans, with “absolute disgrace” perhaps the most frequent and polite insult directed at the Portuguese.
Ronaldo is used to confronting and overcoming adversity, but while he received a warm welcome back from United supporters after his involvement in Wayne Rooney’s sending-off during England’s quarter-final defeat by Portugal in the 2006 World Cup, it remains to be seen whether the fans will forgive him if be stays at Old Trafford beyond this summer. The first clues should come this afternoon, when United face Aberdeen in a pre-season friendly at Pittodrie.
Even had he not been ruled out for up to three months with an ankle injury, Ronaldo would not have been at the match, although the fans’ reaction to his hankering for a move is likely to overshadow the result and the celebrations to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Aberdeen’s Ferguson-inspired European Cup Winners’ Cup victory over Real.
Although numerous conspiracy theories are doing the rounds, with some suggesting that the Glazers are prepared to sell Ronaldo and that United are happy for the speculation to continue because they have yet to sign anyone, amid fears that Ferguson has little money to spend, the overwhelming belief is that the club want to keep the player.
That battle, however, is likely to get harder after Carlos Queiroz became the new Portugal coach yesterday on a four-year deal. Ferguson was loath to lose his assistant, but despite offering Queiroz a significantly improved contract, the attraction of succeeding Luiz Felipe Scolari proved too great for the Portuguese to resist.
(times)
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Personally i think he should be left in the reserves, mainly to show real they cant have what ever they want and to show ronaldo that he needs to honour his contract.
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Reaction at the reserve match at the weekend
(http://images.mirror.co.uk/upl/m3/jul2008/2/1/206FB00A-9DF0-5370-1DD01AA8B743FD15.jpg)
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im a newcastle fan and as you can imagine i dont really like manchester united but i think what ronaldo is doing is complete bullshit. how dare a player do that to a club, theres no way fergie will want him back as fergies policy has always been "no player is bigger than the club". i remember when hamman did this to newcastle back in 2000, players holding clubs to ransom needs to be stopped i.e. a compulsary 3 month ban if you force a club to sell you. its now a players market and not a clubs market.
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im a newcastleliverpoolou can imagine i dont really like manchester united but i think what ronaldo is doing is complete bullshit. how dare a player do that to a club, theres no way fergie will want him back as fergies policy has always been "no player is bigger than the club". i remember when hamman did this to newcastle back in 2000, players holding clubs to ransom needs to be stopped i.e. a compulsary 3 month ban if you force a club to sell you. its now a players market and not a clubs market.
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Cristiano Ronaldo won’t get a penny more for staying at Manchester United
The Portuguese star will have to settle for £120,000 a week
CRISTIANO RONALDO will not get a penny more out of Manchester United in return for staying at the club, David Gill, United’s chief executive, has said. Sources close to Ronaldo had suggested he could be persuaded to abandon thoughts of a transfer to Real Madrid if United improved his £120,000-a-week contract, but no such compromise will be proposed. Gill labelled as “lunacy” the figure of £170,000 a week that Real Madrid are reported to be willing to pay the player. Gill is calling on Ronaldo to show some commitment and loyalty" by honouring the five-year deal he signed in 2007.
In a briefing in Cape Town, where United arrived on Friday to start a 10-day tour of South Africa and Nigeria, Gill was emphatic when asked whether Ronaldo would be offered a new contract. No,” he said. “He only entered into the previous contract 18 months before and in terms of where he’s at in our wage hierarchy he’s doing pretty well.” Regarding suggestions Ronaldo’s flirtation with Real is partly to get a higher salary from United, Gill said: “Possibly, but not necessarily, and if the figures bandied around that Real Madrid are talking about are true, we wouldn’t go anywhere near that. That would be lunacy.”
Gill revealed he is being encouraged to stand firm on Ronaldo by the Glazer family, who own United, but said Sir Alex Ferguson is “the key determiner of our stance”. Ferguson, having flown to Portugal to hold talks with Ronaldo, told a press conference in Cape Town that “he’ll be a Manchester United player next season. He won’t be sold”. Gill said: “The player is under contract so the strength and the rights are with Manchester United. I think we’ve been pretty clear all along that Ronaldo has got a contract until 2012, he’s a valuable member of the team and that’s the situation. Obviously there’s some issues there, but that’s for Alex and is why Alex had the meeting, to discuss things and put our point of view. I’m sure Cristiano put his point of view and hopefully we can move forward.
“All we were doing, effectively, is saying we clearly have a player who is one of the best in the world. He entered into a new contract, his third with us, only 18 months after his previous one. With that, we believe, go some responsibilities and obligations. There was an increased salary and we clearly feel there has to be some commitment and loyalty and he can’t just say, ‘I’ve entered into it, but I’ll leave a year down the line’, especially after the season we’ve just had. It’s a two-way street and contracts are entered into with a view to getting that kind of commitment.”
Gill said Ronaldo, on an extended holiday while recovering from an ankle operation, would be welcomed back, even though his public statements about wanting to move to Real have angered many United fans: “Alex feels comfortable that Ronaldo will come back and feel integrated very quickly and win over the fans. If he starts scoring goals then people will forget.”
Rio Ferdinand echoed his chief executive: “There’ll be no problems with the players accepting Ronaldo. Cristiano himself is a fantastic lad, a great guy, someone who gets on with everyone in the squad. He never has any problems with anyone in the squad and I’m sure that will be the same when he comes back.”
Ferdinand revealed he has been in close contact with Ronaldo: “I’ve spoken to him on the phone and there have been texts. He’s in good spirits. The conversations will remain private but I want him to stay. I'm just the same as any United fan - Cristiano scored 42 goals for us last season.
“For most players it’s flattering when someone else wants you and are prepared to go to great lengths to get you. But he’s not a silly boy and he understands he’s signed for Man United and until Man United deem it’s time for him to go he will remain a Man United player. At the end of the day it’s simple. It’s down to the club.”
Ronaldo will return to join a group of players hell-bent on repeating their success of last season.
“We’ve got the same hunger,” Ferdinand said. “We want to retain the titles we hold. After the Champions League final I heard different players talking in different conversations and they were already thinking about next season and the next things we’re going to win.”