Ronaldo relishing fresh challenge

June 23, 2009

Cristiano Ronaldo

CRISTIANO Ronaldo is looking forward to a fresh challenge in his career as he moves closer to his dream switch to Real Madrid after six hugely successful years at United.

Speaking to the press in Portugal, where he is continuing his holidays, Ronaldo revealed that although negotiations are still ongoing with Madrid, he is eager for his new life to begin at the Bernabeu.

Ronaldo's management company Gestifute, who on Monday issued a statement insisting the player had given no interviews since United accepted an £80million offer for his services from Madrid on June 11, confirmed that the 24-year-old had spoken to the press in Portugal.

"As I've already said in every interview. Real Madrid is the club in which I've always wanted to play," Ronaldo was quoted as saying.

"It will be good to play with Kaka, a player who was the Ballon d'Or, the best in the world, but also with Raul, (Iker) Casillas and Guti.

"If I'm allowed, now I want to rest, because the negotiations are still not concluded.

"I want to start pre-season well, that's what I really want.

"The truth is that I'm eager to start."

He added: "I still don't have a house in Madrid, but I'll set aside time to look. I also want to learn Spanish, but this is the time to rest, to be with my family, so I can then start strongly and give the best of me.

Expectations

"I know that the expectations are great but I have to get used to that."

Ronaldo also confirmed reports that appeared in the media today that he had undergone medical tests with Madrid yesterday, saying: "Everything went perfectly."

Ronaldo's impending switch to Madrid will bring to an end a trophy and award-laden spell at United for the Portugal international.

Since moving to Old Trafford from Sporting Lisbon in 2003, Ronaldo has won Premier League titles, the Champions League and the FA Cup among numerous other club successes, while he has also won a host of individual crowns, including the Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player of the Year awards for 2008.

Ronaldo admits it may take him a while to adapt to life in La Liga after so long in England, but the 24-year-old is confident of a successful switch.

"It will be a little difficult at the start because I was at Manchester United for six years," he said.

"In England, they play a more physical style of football, faster, but that is not an excuse. I only hope that I can adapt as quickly as possible.

"My life is based on challenges. Every year at Manchester United I had that. This is a different season because everything is new and that's why it's a different challenge.

"Winning titles is the challenge. Madrid are used to winning things, the same as Manchester United. I have high hopes and I'm certain that everything will turn out well,."

Ronaldo, who admits he does not yet know what shirt number he will wear at Madrid or when he will be officially presented, also had a message to United fans.

He said: "I want to take advantage of the chance to ask the fans and the people of Manchester United to understand my decision. It's going to be a very big challenge for me."

What do you think? Have your say.

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Ben'sDad, WA4 (23/06/2009 at 09:25)

So what?

Ted the Red, GMR (23/06/2009 at 09:33)

It's about time this paper professing to be from Manchester started printing stories that were relevant to Manchester United and stopped trying to knock them down all the time!!!

seasider, blackpool (23/06/2009 at 09:37)

He's gone. Enough of the Ronaldo articles already. He plays for RM now. I mean really, who cares?

Steve in Brussels (23/06/2009 at 09:40)

I understand his decision but he went to the evil ones with no morals so ronaldo is dead to me now. I will never watch him play there as i despise everything about what real madrid stands for and I wish that club only ill fortune. still that may happen as the clown perez isn't interested in defenders so as before is trying to create the harlem globetrotters that will look nice on youtube but get overrun by stronger teams

Frank Old Trafford (23/06/2009 at 10:20)

Who cares!!

david allen (23/06/2009 at 10:33)

He goes with mine and thousands of others blessings. We would have won very little without him, because he has carried us for the last 5 years. If ever there was a one man team it was us. Look at his record, over 100 goals in 3 years, from the wing! Incredible. I've been fortunate enough to witness 2 of the greatest players in the world, George and Ronnie, and trust me they don't come around that often. I'm concerned about the future. People say this is the best SQUAD we've ever had. That's as maybe, and up for debate. It certainly isn't the best team, that was undoubtedly the '93/94 team, which was awesome.

Brian Taylor (23/06/2009 at 10:36)

Thanks & Good Luck Ronnie! Cheers

Free Red, Manchester (23/06/2009 at 11:06)

Quote "I want to take advantage of the chance to ask the fans and the people of Manchester United to understand my decision. It's going to be a very big challenge for me."...it's all about me, me, me look at me! At least he won't have to learn how to dive, roll around on the pitch or stomp off the park when he gets substituted!

danny, WILMSLOW (23/06/2009 at 11:09)

Please keep Ronaldo off our forum from now on he,s gone so we do not wish to see or here anything more amount him, only when he flops at Madrid!

edinburgh red, edinburgh (23/06/2009 at 11:09)

Agree with everyone, he's moved on and left a bitter taste in everyones mouth so he wont be remembered too fondly, let him stick to heat magazine instead of festering on our united pages.

Red Apache, Didsbury (23/06/2009 at 11:32)

Hot of the press for M.E.N Real Madrid are moving to Manchester and will be called Real Manchester. they will add a section to there website under Football just under Manchester United and above Manchester City. Where you can read all about Real Manchester and Ronaldo.

He's gone be happy and move on.

Duncan, London (23/06/2009 at 12:10)

Steve, stop disrespecting the Harlem Globetrotters.

Dave (23/06/2009 at 12:15)

David Allen - good note. If you'd have thrown Cantona into the mix then I'd have agreed 100%. Good luck Ronnie. Awesome player.

Now the 93/94 team - *that* was a team and one of my biggest regrets was seeing us get hammered in Barca and having to see Cantona, Schmikes et al in the stands cos of that foreigner rule.....

Gilly, Belgium (23/06/2009 at 14:19)

All the best Ronaldo
now lets move on , ok

MUFC1878 (23/06/2009 at 14:21)

Who gives a stuff.

Spent the best two years of his career telling lies and whinging about the future and dreams.

Can't wait to see the dream turn into a nightmare.

Kinkys boots (23/06/2009 at 16:27)

At last you've all begun to realise that he's just a diving self centred prima donna.....took you all long enough though!!

M22, Wythenshawe (23/06/2009 at 16:31)

Can anyone please tell me what happend to Manyoo the last time you let you best players go Best and Law 73, showpony and Tevez 2009, nevermind at least you have still got Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholas and the fella from the Adams family. Roll On Sat 17th April Tevez backheel me thinks

davmac, manchester (23/06/2009 at 16:39)

Clearly, the Manchester Evening News have now been told by fans that Ronaldo is no longer a United player and that they should not be mentioning him in the United section. That is until he finally realises that he has made an awesome error of judgement and demands to return to Old Trafford for twenty-million.

Shammers, marton moss (23/06/2009 at 16:44)

he's gone,when did that happen?

Ave It! (23/06/2009 at 16:50)

Why done Ronnie,who can blame you moving to a club with finances to match your ambition.

BALL AND BAT, ALL OVER (23/06/2009 at 16:53)

And i can see ronaldo a flop at madrid too thanks for the ££££££££ real and when he has crashed and burnt no we dont want him back.......simple as that....surplus to requirements he is a lying so and so not loyal and i hope he fails misrable he isnt an old trafford legend like best and law and charlton........nuff said ....again thanks for the 80 million....

Geraldo Xavier (23/06/2009 at 16:58)

Ronaldo is over. United fans will think in the future players. I think he never repeats a season like 07/08 even he stayed in United. The Madrid night accelerates the end of his carrer.

david allen (23/06/2009 at 17:02)

Who gives a stuff.

Spent the best two years of his career telling lies and whinging about the future and dreams.

Can't wait to see the dream turn into a nightmare.
MUFC1878,
23/06/2009 at 14:21

If a few other players 'told lies and whinged', but scored 30 odd goals a season and single handedly won us more trophies than we could ever dream of.......................I'd be very happy!

Scunthorpe Rob (23/06/2009 at 17:08)

The best thing we have ever had at OT, best bird puller, best diver, best goal scorer, best whinger, O and the most miserable when he is not allowed to take a free kick. I will miss this spoilt kid...My mate bumpt into him in a bar in LA sat and had a few beers with him and after an hour he confessed " Iam not a man I am a big girls blouse, Ronaldo"

Lets move on and juat hope City don't sign him next season..........

Bellingham, West Gorton Massive (23/06/2009 at 17:26)

I think it's in poor taste printing this article. You know how sensitive we all are the moment having just lost our two best players and gone from laughing at citeh to laughing nervously.

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