As has been happening for many summers now, Real Madrid has again insisted they will sign winger Cristiano Ronaldo (who scored 41 goals this season) from Manchester United.
Personally, it has driven me mad.
It no doubt has had a similar effect on Sir Alex Ferguson, who is obviously extremely keen to hold onto the player, maybe more than any other player during his tenure at United.
While this may simply be speculation, it still serves to drive Ronaldo from United and into greedy hands in the Bernabeu.
A lot of flak has come Rafa Benitez's way lately over the way he conducted his negotiations over Aston Villa captain and England hopeful Gareth Barry. Villa manager Martin O'Neill has criticized him for being too public, and trying to unsettle Barry.
The same criteria apply to Inter Milan and their treatment of Belarussian Alexander Hleb. Wenger stated that if their alleged tapping up of Hleb continued he would "report them to Fifa."
So why is this case any different?
Everyone knows Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon is desperate to sign Ronaldo. But, I don't think he has the right to publicly announce on nearly every possible occasion that he is confident of signing Ronaldo.
A Bernabeu source said today, "The suggestion coming from Ronaldo's people is that he is not sure United can make good on the promises he has been made, and is starting to wonder if there is anything more he can do in England.
"If he is looking for the next challenge, then it can only come by leaving England and there can be no better club than Real Madrid."
Now that just shouts out to be reported to Fifa.
The same applies to the relentless hunt of Cesc Fabregas. Who do Real Madrid think they are to just come out and announce that the next challenge for these players is in La Liga? La Liga, mind you, are considered by many to be inferior to the English Premiership.
However, like music to the ears of many Manchester United fans, Ronaldo today said, "I'm at the right club, playing with the right players, and I learn things all the time. That's what great about being at United. I improve all the time and I want to improve every season."
Either way Calderon's and Madrid's constant harassing of the Premier League's top stars is, in my opinion, disgraceful. The sooner Fifa crack down on this behavior the better. No matter who you support in England, it's players like Ronaldo and Fabregas who light up the league.
So, Calderon, stick with Raul and rejects like Van Nistelrooy and Heinze. Ronaldo is ours.
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5 months ago
Well said my friend.
5 months ago
Dont Ronaldo himself wants to go there. United made him into the multi-millionaire superstar he is today. He cant just "Up and Leave". You never know these days though and I only got to say this - United will not be the same force without him and it'll mighty difficult to replace him. Unless you replace him with Messi, its damn near impossible...
from 5 months ago
I know, and Madrid know that. He would be hard to replace but he wouldnt be the first star we replaced and not the last.
Its very annoying though that every transfer window Ronaldo is being pestered to move, even by his own mother. He owes a lot to United as we do to him, so I think he should stay a few years yet.
5 months ago
I think responding (in terms of reporting him for his comments) to Calderon will only make him feel like he's won the battle. I feel that clubs should just forget about it when it comes to stupid comments in the media. When the situation escalates to tapping up - then I guess the clubs would have to report to FIFA.
5 months ago
Ronaldo has said so many times, including a couple of days ago, that he feels United is the right club for him. And he said a while back how the consistent rumors of being linked with Madrid drive him mad. So don't worry, Keith, you're not the only one upset by these stupid rumors.
5 months ago
wasnt fergie himself saying similar things about benzema and/or ben arfa before the match against lyon? may we have the link for the article u wrote regarding the same :P.
5 months ago
does real madrid every get sick of we get ronaldo why the hell would cristiano ronaldo leave man united where the team is actually is build around him he has won the premiership he in the champions league final in a coulple of days he wl probarly go to real madrid in two or three yearrs.
5 months ago
perfectly said
5 months ago
Of course, Man Utd are saints and never tap anyone up or try to unsettle them.........
http://www.rte.ie/sport/2004/0106/manunited.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/3371357.stm
Every team does it, I didn't hear any mancs complaining when it was in their favour?
from 4 months ago
Here here. Simon`s right about that people.
4 months ago
"rejects like van Nistelrooy".... How can you call yourself a Manchester United fan when you are referring to a Manchester United legend as a reject??? You should be ashamed of yourself. I think i speak on behalf of all the true united fans out there when i say that we have greatly missed the targetman upfront. Also remembering what Ronaldo did at the world cup ( i know, 2 years ago) can we still treat him as a god??? Also, unlike van Nistelrooy who loves the club and its fans, Ronaldo has publicly said that he does not see himself playing at the club for a long time because he wants to play abroad. Also, with a great proportion of the goals coming from Ronaldo, it seems the system we are playing is becoming similar to the two man team of Gerrard and Torres at Liverpool. This summer we need to invest in players of a higher quality standard and get rid of REAL potential rejects such as darren fletcher and louis saha.
from 4 months ago
I meant it as a small joke mate. And Van Nistlerooy, no matter what his record, did in a way become a reject due to the matter he left the club. No Im not ashamed of myself, sorry.
We dont miss the 'great target man'. Our play has become less one dimensional since he left and the whole team has increased in pace and the style of play is more attractive. Saying that, im not a hater of Van, he was a hero.
Ronaldo two years ago at world cup? The winking? So what? Would you not call Cantona a king even though he kung foo kicked a Crystal Palace fan? Every great player makes mistakes, plus Ronaldo was young.
We are playing too similar to a two man team? Do you watch Man United? Are Vidic and Ferdinhand nothing to do with it? We conceded the least amount of goals this season in the league, so thats down to Ronaldo is it? Or Rooney?
from 4 months ago
Plus it is well known that Van Nistlerooy was a hindrince in the dressing room and was holding back the likes of Ronaldo and hurting their confidence. this proved correct when after Van left and Ronaldo was jeered every time he touched the ball(after the winking incident) he came out and scored 23 goals.
4 months ago
I'm a little hurt that Ronaldo after only recently saying he's happy at United and will be staying here now told Spanish media he would consider his future at the club after CL final. I don't know why he would do that, especially before such an important game. I understand a player's wish for a new challenge at some point, but he's still so young and much to achieve. He can become a club legend United, he should stay here for many more years to come. I really hope his comments were misinterpreted because I don't want him to move not just because he means a lot to United, but because I truly think he will be making a huge mistake to move to Spain anytime soon. Hopefully a CL victory will help him realise that he is already at a great club where people love him for what he is, not a merchandising tool like Real wants him to be.
from 4 months ago
Good Point. I believ he will only improve at United while in my opinion if he goes to Spain, hes just another Galactico. He would not be the star anymore, just another spoke in the wheel. At United, along with Rooney, Vidic, Nani, Anderson, Tevez and Evra he represents the youth and future of a great club on the up an up.
He owes United a few more years yet...
4 months ago
Thats my first article with over 1000 reads. Thanks again everyone.
4 months ago
I heard SAF's about Madrid and I thought it was very hypocritical. Let's face it the transfer market is a cut-throat business, and all clubs are willing to do whatever it takes to get their signing. I mean Calderon's comments about Kaka and Ronaldo are unethical. But so are Man Utd's public courting of Hargreaves in which Bayern threatened to report Man U to FIFA. Man Utd have been also accused of tapping up Robben and Jaap Stam. It's ironic that the author mention Cesc Fabregas because Arsenal used agents to tap him up whilst he was a 16 year old playing for Barca's youth teams. Arsenal exploited the fact the in Spain you can't sign pro. contracts till you're 18, (in England it's 16 years old). Arsenal fans say it's because Barcelona don't give youth a chance, but then look at Bojan Krkic and Lionel Messi, and Xavi and Iniesta a few years back.
4 months ago
play madrid at their own game..
demand casillas + ramos + robinho + £80mill
i think united should sell him as hes said himself he want to play for madrid
the last thing we need is a player whcih doesent want to play for the club
we should sell him now as we wont get the same offer twice...
gd luck to ronaldo where ever he goes
4 months ago
i hate it that R.madrid is always always after man-utd .why don't they just make a team of their own.
why are they always after superstars anyways. oh my bet they can't make it like Fergie .......... so they rely on the out put they don't know how to make the input . and Roni it is way too much better 4 u 2 stay in the great man-utd. u know ziz is the right club 4 u in every way .why are u doing this to yourself think of both ways as there is success there is failurity.didn't man-utd waited 4 u to reach where you are today ? is this so much more to ask for him to stay after all man-utd has done for him.....i am a big fan that's all . i know that man-utd can come up with other stars. it always does .
i love u all the man-utd fan u are z best.
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