Ronaldo 'fined' for texts

February 13, 2008

CRISTIANO Ronaldo has reportedly been fined £8,000 for texting during a training session.

The United star is said to have been caught by manager Sir Alex Ferguson sending four texts during breaks in the middle of a session at the Carrington training complex.

And the 23-year-old was landed with on-the-spot £2,000 fines for each offence as part of a new crackdown on the use of mobile phones at the club, it has been reported.

Disciplinarian Sir Alex has earned a reputation during more than 21 years at Old Trafford of ensuring his players focus on their game and are not distracted from winning trophies.

A spokesman at United declined to comment.

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edinburgh red, edinburgh (13/02/2008 at 11:11)

Half a years wages for 4 text messages, frightning.

Alias Smith, over the moon (13/02/2008 at 11:34)

Sounds like a sensible rule and I hear Capello has introduced many similar rules in the England camp.

Not quite sure why it's deemed so newsworthy though and United are right not to comment - it's an internal club matter, a minor one at that.

red fred (13/02/2008 at 12:07)

probably the amount of change he had in his back pocket

tooth&claw, manchester (13/02/2008 at 12:23)

No story here. All players are fined if they use their mobiles at training and the money goes into the players charity fund. It's been like that for years and we've prviously had the same sort of story about Beckham, Rooney and Fletcher. I didn't know the size of the fine though.

RCH, Salford (13/02/2008 at 12:44)

Poor lad's no doubt still being bothered by that Blonde from Hollyoaks. Either that or a certain centre half has passed on Titmuss' number?!

reppick, salford (13/02/2008 at 12:59)

The beginning of the end ?
A familiar road.

Johnniejohn, Tunbridge Wells (13/02/2008 at 16:03)

Why go out traingn with a mobile in your pocket? You'd get a nasty bruise if you landed on it after a tackle. Or just practised falling over in the case of Ronaldo

Nollaig Mc Guinness (13/02/2008 at 16:39)

He was texting me - I'm coaching him on his free kick technique. Damned if I'm paying the fine though..

blood red, Sydney (14/02/2008 at 00:16)

It will be sad but I can see Ronaldo heading out the door.Not because of the texts obviously but because he`s just not manchester at heart.If United have to increase a players wage or defend a player everytime interest is shown he is just not meant to be.Did united ever have to defend Keane,Robson,Cantona,Giggs,ole,yorke,Best,Charlton.No one player is as big as United but you will see the truth.

Bobby Law (14/02/2008 at 00:17)

Doe's anyone know what the text messages said. Be nice to know. Come on show pony spill the beans.

Pat (14/02/2008 at 00:40)

Just speaks volumes about the way our players have been going about their business in the last few weeks. Arsenal have opened up what is a championship winning lead - at this stage in the season - in my eyes and our best player is taking little breaks during training to send text messages to his little bit on the side, in all likelihood. It's one of the reasons why we won't win the title this year, one of the tinier ones, granted, but it's a reflection.

arthurdawkins (14/02/2008 at 08:00)

THATS ALL WE NEED !! WELL IT
WASNT A HAIR DRYER..AFTER THAT PATHETIC PERFORMANCE WOW
WE WANT NO TROUBLE IN CAMP..
AND ALSO WE HAVE THE BEST
GROUP OF PLAYERS..HAS GONE OUT OF THE WINDOW !! TO MANY
IN MIDFIELD AND NO BLOODY
STRIKERS..TO LOSE TO SUCH A
POOR TEAM AS THEM WAS SUCH A
DISTGRACE.ARS MURDERED THEM.
CHELS MURDERED THEM. SHEFF THE SAME.ONLY 4 PLAYERS GOT
INTO DOUBLE FIGURES..2 FROM
EACH SIDE.WOW.SO LETS SEE IT
SORTED AND THE YANKS GET SOME
MONEY OUT!! HOW MANY HAS VAN
GOT !! OH DEAR.DEAR. DEAR....
Big Dunc could have beat that
blue lot on his own,no sweat.
ANGRY THAIART.KORAT.THAILAND.

RCH, Salford (14/02/2008 at 09:46)

Pat, chill out. A few texts and a smacked wrist is hardly head butting a team-mate while losing a Carling Cup semi.

drew peacock, stockport (14/02/2008 at 12:38)

Half a years wages for 4 text messages, frightning.
edinburgh red, edinburgh
For you maybe, for him it's half a days pay.
Sack the bloke that's what I say, sell him to Madrid, he's been rubbish last few games anyway.

Citizen52, Whitefield (14/02/2008 at 14:02)

He won't be happy with this. Could an innocuous looking incident akin to the boot being kicked at Beckham be the catalyst for a move? Maybe he was texting Bernd Schuster!

Citizen52, Whitefield (14/02/2008 at 14:11)

Arthur I think most reds generally gave us credit for the derby win. At the end of the day we did win in August too.

You shouldn't read so much into it really. Remember the last derby at Maine Road? We went out of the cup to Wigan (2nd division then) a short time before it and lost the week after to Charlton I think.

Same with the 2004 one at Eastlands, we nearly went down that season, and in 2006 after going out of the cup to Doncaster that season.

It's not a given that United should murder us every time although I didn't expect us to win on Sunday. That's the nature of derbies, although it has to be said City thoroughly deserved to win on Sunday and we are not as poor as you make out. We wouldn't be aiming for Europe at this stage of the season if we were.

RANDYRED (14/02/2008 at 18:14)

I can see ronaldo heading out of old trafford and i really beleive this as i actually think he is barca or madrid bound.
Id be happy as the amount would be amazing and let the big guns battle it out for the name ronaldo.
Then lets get some other players in class but of the ruud keano attitude.

mattmcfc30, Nottingham (15/02/2008 at 11:16)

He was texting Sven.

Asking him to join the `pride of manchester'.

Ha ha ha ha ha ha

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