Reds warn Ronaldo suitors

April 03, 2007

IN DEMAND: Cristiano Ronaldo

UNITED director Sir Bobby Charlton admits the club are becoming "cheesed off" by Real Madrid and Barcelona continuing their pursuit of Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Spanish giants have both been strongly linked with the 22-year-old winger despite statements from the club that he is going nowhere. He has scored 18 goals so far this season to keep United on course for a repeat of their 1999 treble.

Charlton believes the player should be left alone to focus on playing for United and is becoming increasingly frustrated by other clubs refusing to back off.

"Anybody associated with Manchester United would be a little bit perturbed when a few months before the end of a very important season someone starts to make claims for him. I don't think it's correct," Charlton said.

"Ronaldo is our player and while he's under contract to us I don't think it's anybody's right to come and start the process of trying to change him into being one of their players. That is not the way to do business.

"We get cheesed off with it when we've got players under contract who are very happy with what they're doing and where they are."

Do you think Ronaldo will be unsettled by speculation? Have your say.

| Submit Comments | Comments (52) |

Showing comments 1 to 25 and replies | View All

Father Neil (03/04/2007 at 09:07)

It's wrong and these clubs shouldn't be doing it, but it happens to all the time-in this case unusally a 'big club'(Utd) is the victim-it's usually a club further down the food chain e.g. Fulham-Saha, Charlton-Parker etc...

Birdy, Ireland (03/04/2007 at 09:25)

Two things. Firstly what Madrid are doing is illegal and if UEFA had any balls they'd put a stop to it as they do it all the time. Club officials aren't supposed to be saying how much they want to see other players sign for their team, and the disclaimer that "of course he is under contract to x" doesn't clear them of tapping up.

Secondly to say it might unsettle Ronaldo is a load of rubbish i think. Why would it? The lad is not stupid - he knows already that any team in the world, literally, would take him in a heartbeat, so what difference should it make that Madrid are mouthing out of them and saying they'd like him. Whats unsettling about that? Is he going to be lying in bed at night afraid that Madrid want him? No. Is this revelation that Madrid want him going to surprise him? No. Its a nuisence from the clubs point of view but its been going on so long that i cant see how Ronaldo could be unsettled by it at this stage.

And as for big clubs here doing what Madrid do, they dont. Paper speculation fuels debate here. You dont here SAF or any other club spokesman come out and say they want to sign a certain player, and wax lyrical about how that player dreams in red and other such nonsense. Even with Hargreaves the most we have done is confirm that we've bid for him. Thats pretty much true of most clubs in England too, with the notable exception of Chelsea. ANd actually, surprisingly, Newcastel, where Roeder is always on about admiring someone, although given the dross he manages thats probably understandable.

Red Eyes, Manchester (03/04/2007 at 09:37)

I think what United are really unhappy about is the lack of a concrete offer to follow up reported 'interest'. How can we moan about a persistent pursuit when we are chasing OH when Bayern have said "NO" several times and our chase for Carrick when Spurs refused our approach? The difference is we put in formal offers for players who seemingly wanted/want to come to OT. We are being used by Spaniards in election battles. Solutions would include CR7 signing the contract offered (but that really only increases the transfer fee and is not worth the paper signed!) and OH writing out a transfer request.

chris, oxford (03/04/2007 at 09:44)

Can somebody please explain what the difference is in Barca and Real chasing Ronaldo and us chasing Hargreaves? Smacks of double standards Sir Bobby.

george (03/04/2007 at 09:58)

Ronaldo has grown as a player and as a human being in the past year.He seems team orientated and he must know he is in a good team.That could be decisive in him staying at OT. Without any UNITED bias I think he's at the best club for his own World status.

Mick, Dublin (03/04/2007 at 10:22)

That's a very good point, Chris, I'm trying to think what's different about the two scenarios but they seem exactly the same to me.

In fact, the only difference is that, as Birdy says, the interest from Real hasn't unsettled Ronnie one bit but our interest in Hargreaves has led to him coming out and saying he wants a transfer!

Demo, Glossop (03/04/2007 at 10:47)

yep the only difference is we put in a bid for OH whereas its all talk with real and barca.

I dont think it will unsettle him rather he is the type to buzz off it and play even better

chris, oxford (03/04/2007 at 10:52)

Birdy didn't Fergie even show OH around OT, the museum etc, when he was over with the England squad?

Alias Smith, over the moon (03/04/2007 at 11:08)

chris, there IS a difference in that Bayern agreed to sell OH to us and then changed their minds. We actually made an offer, which was publicised not by United but by OH and Bayern. United only commented on it after it was brought to the public domain by the other parties and the club's comments since have been in response to media questions rather than USING the media to pursue our interest.

Duncan, London (03/04/2007 at 11:08)

One main difference is that we are paying Ronaldo an exceptional wage and BM are paying OH peanuts, 15k a week I understand. I read the other day that in Portugal they are looking to link the maximum a club can charge for the sale of their player to the wages they pay to them. I would agree with this approach if they also included the amount the club invested in them as well if they started their career at that club. Keeping a player on relatively low wages when they could be earning in some cases several times more without offering the player either a commensurate pay rise or a chance to buy out their contract for a value that relates to their pay is denying them opportunities to maximise their income from a limited working life.

bobbydazzler (03/04/2007 at 11:34)

in fairness its a bit loke the pot calling the kettle black. we are not whiter than white when it cups to tapping up players. to name jap staam for one and ruud for another

Anthony, Hamilton,Ontario,Canada (03/04/2007 at 11:45)

I'm begining to believe that these Spanish clubs think that they are every player's wishful thinking. But this should go away if Ronaldo signs the new deal.

Spike, Ldn (03/04/2007 at 11:59)

the difference is that this is a crucial part of the season for teams competing for honours, simple as

Birdy, Ireland (03/04/2007 at 12:00)

When he was over with the England squad Chris. He was just being polite i'm sure. Now I'm certainly not saying we've never tapped up a player, pretty much every club does behind the scense, but no one does it as flagrantly as Real and Barca and nothing is ever said

Alan Brazil, party time in kent tonight (03/04/2007 at 12:17)

same a Owen Hargeaves, bid or no bid. United like to bully when it suits but don't like it when it happens to them. and yes I am a bertie blue

TMUF, Manchester (03/04/2007 at 12:17)

The difference between Ronaldo and Hargreaves is the fact that Hargreaves is the one doin all the talking. You don't ever here us come out with comments about him until the paper asks a question about them which we respnd 2. As for Ronaldo, all he has said is he is happy here so theres the difference.

chris, oxford (03/04/2007 at 12:20)

So when did Bayern ever accept a bid from us Alias? I'm very sorry to have besmirched our wonderful club but we do occasionally do things wrong you know! It would be just as easy for Fergie to say "no comment" as plenty of other managers do when asked about potential targets so to say we aren't using the media is ridiculous. Blimey man, is there nothing you cant put spin on? ;-)

chris, oxford (03/04/2007 at 12:20)

Good one Birdy, it's good to know that manners are still abundant at OT ;-)

Alias Smith, over the moon (03/04/2007 at 12:44)

chris, no spin here! You asked what the difference between the two situations was and I think there ARE key differences. Of course SAF could say no comment when asked about OH but there's a world of difference between that and newspapers like Marca and AS who are complicit with a club in trying to unsettle a player. I am NOT saying we are always squeeky-clean when it comes to transfer targets but we ARE relative to the Spaniards, and Real in particular. So there!

Alias Smith, over the moon (03/04/2007 at 12:52)

Oh and chris, Bayern say they have an offer which is valid until the summer so we HAVE made an offer.

Blip, Manchester (03/04/2007 at 13:00)

Hmmm.... let me see. Stretford or Madrid/Barcelona?? Why would he want to hang around in a dive? He's heading for a big fall if he stays.

stu, london (03/04/2007 at 13:08)

I would agree, if we hadn't repeatedly done the same thing with Owen Hargreaves. Sorry Bobby, but it IS the "way we do business", more's the pity.

Andy P, Wythenshawe, Manchester (03/04/2007 at 13:14)

Blip Manchester, wht do you make stupid comments? Last season, city fans were saying United and Fergie were over the hill ! Doesn't seem that way does it Next you say the City's name is on the cup this season, nope didnt happen. Just go back to you own site and talk about your mediocre club with all the berties.

Whaley Bridge Cynic (03/04/2007 at 13:16)

So it's OK for United to be continually linked with Owen Hargreaves, but Real Madrid are out of order for wanting to buy Ronaldo?
Some things never change.

Up the Wolves

David,North Manchester (03/04/2007 at 13:25)

Best not to unsettle Ronaldo.....he might fall over.

()

Report

Manchester United