Ronaldo plot thickens

Stuart Mathieson

June 11, 2008

Cristiano Ronaldo

THE ongoing Cristiano Ronaldo saga has taken a new twist after photographs emerged of a meeting between the United winger and Real Madrid’s fitness guru Valter Di Salvo.

Di Salvo used to work for United, and struck up a friendship with Ronaldo. The Portuguese winger admired Di Salvo's work and dubbed him 'The Professor'.

The pair were pictured in Rome in January and it is alleged Di Salvo then returned to the Bernabeu and wrote up a dossier on the 23-year-old for Real’s hierarchy.

Di Salvo was United’s fitness coach between 2004 and 2007 having been brought to the club by Sir Alex Ferguson’s assistant Carlos Queiroz.

Queiroz had taken the Italian to Real Madrid in 2003 when he was coach there. But after returning to Old Trafford in 2004 following his sacking by Real, Queiroz invited Di Salvo along with him and the fitness coach joined the Reds staff for three years.

However, last July Di Salvo stunned United by returning to the Bernabeu on the eve of United’s pre-season programme.

United were furious with Madrid for poaching Di Salvo and speaking to him without permission. The fitness trainer was put on gardening leave until a compensation package was agreed.

Now revelations of the meet up in Rome has plunged the Ronaldo issue into more murky waters. United were making no comment on the pictures.

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Django (11/06/2008 at 11:06)

I'm not sure that having a drink with a mate from another club, several months ago, is very strong evidence of inappropriate behaviour.

seasider, blackpool (11/06/2008 at 11:30)

Can't believe the fuss being made of this Ronaldo business. Jeez, it's pretty obvious what's going on. HE JUST WANTS A PAY RISE!! He's had a good season, lauded as the word's No.1 and wants a salary commensurate with his status (he currently earns less than fellow penalty-bottler JT of Chelsea). Fair enough I say. Roy Keane and others have had to hold the club to ransom to get their way, and I expect CR to succeed in his quest. The fact that Real are (stupidly) forcing up United's wage bill is what's really irritating the OT suits. They'll cave into Ronaldo's demands, though. They'll have to. There's no way they'll let CR leave, especially not to RM. Don't believe this "my heart is in Spain" nonsense peddled by Marca. The lad's a smart operator, he's a red, and he'll be with us for a while yet. Get your house on it.

And stop slagging him off!

Drifter, Mancunia (11/06/2008 at 12:24)

"Di Salvo used to work for United and struck up a friendship with Ronaldo."

Well that proves it he must be going (lol)

Red Rob (West Lower) (11/06/2008 at 18:30)

Well said seasider. How refreshing to hear some logic.

Jimmy the Gent, The garden shed. (11/06/2008 at 19:09)

Tried to restrain myself from getting caught up in this story but have to say this guy [brilliant though he is] simply does not have [and never had] any longer term commitment to UTD in mind.

Suggested this in support of a posting by someone last season and was amazed how some people refused, or were unable to see this.

Let him go. Although we can't have a team full of local lad's I do want us to buy players who have a feeling for the club at some deeper level. Eric, Ole etc.

Bfast Red, Belfast (11/06/2008 at 20:20)

Seasider Blackpool couldn't have put it better myself. It is unbelievable that so many people are prepared to slag off CR based on what is largely speculation, innuendo and just plain fiction.
This article is just another illustration of the hype that the media are generating in order to grab a headline. Just take a look at the terminology used in one of the paragraphs-

"The pair were pictured in Rome in January and it is ALLEGED Di Salvo then returned to the Bernabeu and wrote up a dossier on the 23-year-old for Real’s hierarchy."

"alleged" by whom exactly?.
Most of what has been written about the affair starts with the words- " It has been reported in the Spanish (French, Italian etc.) press that CR said blah blah...."
As far as I am concerned the only words that I can take as gosple are those that I, along with millions of others, witnessed with our own eyes and ears during the live pitchside interview after the CL final. CR clearly stated he was staying at United and that will do for me until I hear something more visually and audibly credible from the player himself.

Faust (12/06/2008 at 08:42)

Now we have a Summer of discontent. The gulf between Ronaldo and the United supporters will only increase has the new season approaches over the uncertainty and intrigue surrounding the boy wonder. If Ronaldo his forced to submit to the will of Ferguson and play another season at Old Trafford, than I predict a poor season and a sharp decline from his sensational 2008 year. Alternatively If he departs for Real Madrid, United will suffer and experience a mediocre year. Without Christiano Ronaldo United are a very ordinary football team.

Philip Ashton (12/06/2008 at 09:17)

Perhaps Ronnie should take a look at the video on Man Utd Web Page at the triology statue - He need look no further than Bobby Charlton -as a perfect example of loyalty.

As a Man Utd fan I think Ronnie is the greatest but sadely loyalty is something he needs to have a think about.

Also, why take a step down from the greatest football club. I think Real need to realise they lost that crown some time ago.

Red Rob (West Lower) (12/06/2008 at 12:41)

Faust has never seen United play. He has never heard of Wayne Rooney, Carlos Tevez, Paul Scholes, Owen Hargreaves, Anderson, Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic or Patrice Evra to name a few. Or maybe he just doesn't know what the word "ordinary" means. If he were to look to the left of the screen he will find a link underneath "Manchester United" where he can wallow in all that is, at best, ordinary.

ROC, NYC (12/06/2008 at 13:27)

Here is the perfect scenario. Ronaldo dives to win a penalty against Spain in the knockout stages. He steps and scores and becomes villain # 1 of Spain for denying them their first major triumph. He then decides to stay at Man U.

Jrogger, The ether (12/06/2008 at 18:01)

ROC, NYC

That's not an implausible scenario! :)

Quasimodo's Bodydouble, Paris (12/06/2008 at 20:47)

The plot does thicken.
Is all this a front?
Will he follow Scolari to the Bridge?

SAFs RedKnight, Manchester (13/06/2008 at 15:56)

Yarn!

adders, Withington (13/06/2008 at 18:33)

Oh dear! Now his reoutation has taken a dive as well!

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