Ronaldo Real deal done

June 26, 2009

Cristiano Ronaldo

ONE of the longest-running transfer sagas in recent football history is over after Real Madrid and Manchester United finalised the world-record transfer of Cristiano Ronaldo to the Bernabeu.

Madrid have been closely linked with the Portugal international for a number of seasons but they now seem to have got their man after putting pen to paper on the £80million transfer that had been agreed with United earlier this month.

A statement on Madrid's website, www.realmadrid.com, this evening read: “Real Madrid and Manchester United have signed a final agreement for the transfer of the rights of Cristiano Ronaldo from July 1.

“The player will be tied to Real Madrid for the next six seasons and will be presented on July 6 at the Santiago Bernabeu.”

United said on their website, www.manutd.com: “Cristiano Ronaldo's departure is all but done and dusted after Real Madrid and Manchester United finalised the agreement for his transfer on Friday evening.

“The Portuguese winger was the subject of a world record £80million offer from the Spanish club on Thursday 11 June. He has since been on holiday but a return to work with new employers now beckons, with the sale set to be completed on Wednesday 1 July.”

The deal for Ronaldo means Madrid will break the world record transfer fee for the fourth time - all sanctioned by president Florentino Perez.

During Perez's first tenure in the position, from 2000-2006, Madrid signed Luis Figo from Barcelona for £37million in 2000 and then a year later brought in Zinedine Zidane from Juventus for £46million.

Then just a week after returning to the presidency at the start of this month, Perez captured the signing of Brazilian ace Kaka from AC Milan for a fee reportedly in the region of £59million.

Perez and Madrid have now smashed all of those price tags though by bringing FIFA World Player of the Year Ronaldo to Spain.

This announcement ends a pursuit that started a number of years ago and came to a head last summer when barely a day went by when Madrid's chase of Ronaldo was not in the news.

However, Madrid, under then president Ramon Calderon, not only failed to land Ronaldo last year but they soured their relationship with United in the process, culminating in Sir Alex Ferguson famously stating they would not sell the Iberian outfit “a virus”.

It has been a completely different story this summer though, with Perez, who masterminded the arrival of David Beckham from Old Trafford in 2003, quickly smoothing over any existing problems with United and agreeing a deal for Ronaldo.

Aside from Ronaldo and Kaka, Madrid have also brought in Manuel Pellegrini as coach this summer and yesterday clinched the signing of Valencia defender Raul Albiol for an undisclosed fee, believed to be around 15million euros (£12.8million).

To accommodate all the new arrivals Madrid also know they must let some players go and tonight they announced they had reached an agreement with Benfica that will see Javier Saviola move to the Portuguese club.

Saviola joined Madrid from Barcelona in 2007 but has been little more than a bit-part player at the Bernabeu, starting less than 20 league games during his two seasons at the club.

The 27-year-old Argentina international has also played for Sevilla and Monaco in Europe having moved to Barcelona from River Plate in 2001.

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RedHeart (26/06/2009 at 22:46)

Right, well done, that's that then. Now can we get on with United business more often than Ronaldo business. He is officially no longer a Red Devil. Thanks for the contributions Cris, greatly appreciated but my heart is red lad so onward Manchester United !!!

paul leigh (26/06/2009 at 23:37)

Now you are the enemy Cristiano, if we meet in the Champions League we will want to beat your beloved Real Madrid!!

WE WILL DESTROY YOU!!!!!

Thanks for everything....take care!!

Red Army (26/06/2009 at 23:44)

Thanks for everything Ronnie you have served the club well, appreciate it was your dream to play for Real and good luck. Now who's next for famous number 7 ????????????????

red (27/06/2009 at 00:26)

leaves a big hole. the sad thing at Old Trafford is that for the first time in the past 60 years, we don't have an individual player that a young lad could aspire to; there is no hero on the park when the team comes out in their unrecognisable new strip.no denis law, no bobby charlton, no danny blanchflower, no van nistelroy, no george best, no ronaldo or tevez, no young giggs, and the many others that have graced a red shirt, you smiled when they came on the pitch, nobody to even captain and hold the team together. there's potential in some of the younger players, but with fergie at the helm, even that has and will be stifled.

Stockie (27/06/2009 at 00:49)

Moving on...now the £80 is banked lets close in your targets Fergie. I expect there to be serious cash spent in the next fortnight; Benzema, Costa and Valencia. I'd love to see an unexpected/surprise arrival too.

Eric-Forever (27/06/2009 at 02:05)

Totally agree redheart. To move on eh chaps? Feels a bit like getting dumped by that girl who was just a bit too pretty who went off with a guy who drove a convertible....it hurts but you know you'll be better off in the long run. While she only has until her looks fade.

Eric the Red Viking, Denmark (27/06/2009 at 02:06)

Okay. He is at Madrid now and let's move on. Exactly how much we'll miss him remains to be seen.

Will the Real Wayne Rooney please stand up!, Belfast (27/06/2009 at 03:20)

Rarely does a players career improve after Utd. I only hope Ronaldo at some point realises how lucky he was to be indulged at utd. Kaka is the main man at Madrid, Ronaldo may not be so happy playing 2nd fiddle.

unleashed, TO (27/06/2009 at 03:26)

Yes, please, its over now-onto to the new season!

Britt/Canada (27/06/2009 at 05:59)

Thank you...Good luck & Good bye...

the-don, south africa (27/06/2009 at 07:03)

now please, like MJ..lets bury this one and move on.

RemiMoses, Ireland (27/06/2009 at 09:15)

RedHeart...WELL SAID M8...and ill add to that........"The English media "chose" to blame Ronaldo over their World Cup exit, and LATELY they still cant leave him alone, his deal is completed now..FANTASTIC for him, thats what he wants, to go and play for his dream team in the sunshine and collect his stupid amount of money each week GOOD, LETS LEAVE HIM ALONE NOW, and win the league again nxt season". Peace

danny, WILMSLOW (27/06/2009 at 09:27)

I would not sell Madrid a Virus! lies and more lies Campbell has a big Future at United.
MACHEDA is already being Used as bait for Players bit of a sdisgrace if you ask me Rossi valued at 28 million! Forlan 30 million can it be we are lacking a decent coach!

The Man frae Govan (27/06/2009 at 09:30)

Ok. Move on.

danny, WILMSLOW (27/06/2009 at 09:42)

Blog Facts!
Minutes played per goal scored: Berba – 282 mins/goal in the EPL, 123 mins/goal in the CL; Tevez – 372 mins/goal in the EPL, 196 mins/goal in the CL. This does not even take into account assists where Berba is also infinitely better than Tevez. Also: ManU wins when Berba starts – 81%; ManU wins when Tevez starts – 62% (and Tevez complains that he starts only in games against weak opponents). Tevez actually played more minutes (more time) last year than Berba - he just started a little bit fewer games. Finally, with Cruz and Eto'o coming to City - Tevez will not see much more starts in City too

ibblyobbly, nottingham (27/06/2009 at 10:03)

Good luck ronny, Now then lets spend, spend, spend

Red Fitzy, N Ireland (27/06/2009 at 10:19)

Well said RedHeart i couldn't have put it better myself,onwards and upwards MANCHESTER UNITED

Justin The Great, manchester (27/06/2009 at 12:14)

its very sad to see him go
good luck ronnie, you have served us well

Red Dawn (27/06/2009 at 12:29)

£80 million all in one whip aswell. Very nice.

Let the spending commence!

The red divil, Angola (27/06/2009 at 12:30)

He can't sign till Wednesday, period! Glad to see the back of him, most overrated player in years absolutely no spine always missing in the big games. And we have his best years as Sor Bibby says what is he now 23? past it as far as improving goes and will be an absolute flop at Real.

Rilo, New Zealand (27/06/2009 at 12:39)

Thanks and all that . . . but you`re now officially history . . . fond memories , just watched last years DVD review , which of course shows all the good bits and no doubt you will be badly missed on the pitch , but if your heart lies elsewhere , so be it . Hate the close season all the village idiots out in force saying what they gonna do next year . . . .but none of you have a manager that won 11 leagues in 17 years and ultimately thats the difference , every close season is the same , mouth mouth mouth . . .but come May . . .same old same old . . .MUFC riding high . . role on AUG 15th .

Red Dawn (27/06/2009 at 15:03)

Another good thing to come from Ronaldo's sale is that the team will need very little motivating next season.

All the manager needs to say to them is...."Alot of people are saying Ronaldo won the League and Champions League etc for you over the last few seasons. What do you think of that?".

That will really get the players backs up to go out and prove a point.

Lets be honest, Ronaldo did score alot of goals, but he wouldn't have done it if he hadn't the quality around him.

If Ronaldo played for West Brom, would they have achieved the same?

Exactly.

Gary Breen (27/06/2009 at 15:10)

red, ever heard of that boy called WAYNE ROONEY?

reddevil4ever, India (27/06/2009 at 15:15)

So we have sold a player who may be greatest in football history. Yes definitely holds all United's and EPL records. SAf created something special. Still but for Giggsy we might never have had CR7.
Now dear Reds lets get a move on I am sick of Ronny and Best and eveyone else being talked about being the best.
Open your hearts and support Berba and Vida and Rooney as those could eclipse all before.

Red Max (27/06/2009 at 15:28)

Thanks Ronny.

Now lets move on.

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