Button it over Real, Ronaldo told

Stuart Mathieson

January 30, 2007

REAL SILENCE: Cristiano Ronaldo

CRISTIANO Ronaldo has been ordered to let his boots do the talking.

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson and assistant Carlos Queiroz have instructed the 21-year-old not to talk about Real Madrid.

The Spaniards cranked up their transfer target machine last week in an effort to unsettle United's Portuguese winger at Old Trafford.

Ronaldo is Bernabeu president Ramon Calderon's number one summer target and leaking that to the Spanish media has begun the process of de-stabilizing Ronaldo.

United have counter-attacked with Fergie declaring that the Reds only sell the players they want to sell and adding that "absolutely no way" was Ronaldo leaving Old Trafford.

Spanish reporters have been attempting to entice Ronaldo's viewpoint on the possibility of a switch to La Liga for next season.

But United's favourite for Player of the Season, who is also a strong candidate for the Footballer of the Year and PFA Player of the Year honours, said when asked by journalists from Spain: "I know of the interest of Real Madrid, but I can not say anything.

"I have had two conversations with Carlos Queiroz and Alex Ferguson and they have forbidden me to speak about Real Madrid.

"You have to understand that because I don't want any problems."

Do you think there is any danger of Ronaldo leaving in the near future? Have your say.

| Submit Comments | Comments (73) |

Showing comments 1 to 25 and replies | View All

Ronan, Dublin (30/01/2007 at 09:26)

I can see why he'd want to go back to Iberia, but the circus that is Real? They make Chelsea look like a model of stability. If he's going tp go, for his own sake he should hold out for Barca or even Valencia. Of course though i'd rather he stayed. As David Gill says, what's the point of getting â,¬40 million if you can't get a player as good as him in the world to replace him? The Americans should take a long-term view-Ronnie will help us win trophies (and prize money) and he's also very marketable-they don't want to lose out on the merchandising revenue he'll generate- in terms of selling shirts etc he could be the new (or should that be new, improved) Beckham

Eric, Republic of Mancunia (30/01/2007 at 09:26)

There's a shocker, Ronaldo wants to play for Real Madrid. Let's face it, as brilliant as he is, and I have no doubt he will be the best player on the planet, I don't want anyone in a United shirt who doesn't want to be at the club. It's a matter of time before he leaves and that being the case, would rather we accepted a silly bid for him in the summer (40 or 50m) and concentrate on buying a decent replacement (Ribery/Lennon)

Tim Palmer, London (30/01/2007 at 09:35)

I reckon he wants to go, I know that he is playing so well here, and loved by the United massive, but he gets no love from anyone else in the country, he will be a superstar over in Spain, and he is the sort of player who likes the fame more than the football. Look at Beckham, if there is too much of all this speculation and glitzyness, Sir will just sell his latest number 7 so as not to unsettle the team.

macca, cornwall (30/01/2007 at 09:37)

i think there is a danger as i feel he will want to go there in the summer. i really hope we dont sell him, as this time next year he will be the best player in the world. we need to get him tied up onto a massively long term contract that reflects his value to the club. and lets just hope we win either the league or the champions league as that could be a deciding factor to keep him happy. if he does go i would consider nothing less than Â£60m - ludicrous money i know but he is only 21 and has his whole career ahead of him, and then look at aaron lennon.

George, RHYL (30/01/2007 at 09:40)

There's always a danger that a players greatness will go to his head and he'll imagine there's a land of milk and honey elsewhere.
Beckham went to Real but his heart wanted to return to OT.As football goes OT is as good as it gets.
Ronaldo is a fabulous player. I would hope he stays for a good few years yet,but we musn't think UNITED would fall to bits if he or other players left.It would make life awkward for a while but UNITED will always bounce back. Real Madrid,Barcelona,Juventus are names of foorball legend,but so is Manchester United. Ronaldo would achieve more and be happier if he stayed,I think.

Mick, Dublin (30/01/2007 at 09:44)

Good lad. I read that story yesterday. Marca (and we all know who pulls the strings at this particular rag) sent two hacks to Manchester, who literally ambushed him outside his gaff and started asking him how he felt about being the next Real Madrid superstar. In fairness to Ronnie, he played them with a straight bat - as you can see by the fact that the most sensationalised quote in the red-tops today is "I can't talk about Real". Well done to Cristiano, I say. They did the same thing to Reyes at Arsenal and he was tripping over himself to talk about his ambition to play in a white shirt. Ronnie's saying all the right things and, IMO, the best way to guarantee he stays at the club is if we can match his ambition and start winning trophies. Can't say fairer than that.

EDINBURGH RED, EDINBURGH (30/01/2007 at 09:52)

Shock still no new faces in, and as GIll said it's up to the Glazers if ronaldo leaves that'll be a bid in from real soon then, also intrestingly one magazine compared passing, tackling and crossing between our 14-18 million carrick to his successor and much cheaper replacement huddelstone, guess who came out on top between them on every test.

steve, Glossop (30/01/2007 at 10:13)

Problem is how confident can we all really be that if a huge offer did come in the Glazers wouldn't want him sold? The Bale situation could be another barometer of our finances so if the OH price is correct I cant see how we can get mugged again when other areas of the squad need strengthening. I hope Alex is still thinking about the long term future of the team.

Birdy, Ireland (30/01/2007 at 10:18)

I think he will go to Spain - I would imagine he'd go to Barca just as soon as Real. The question is when he goes. I dont think it will this summer. I would expect him to go summer 08, after the European Championships. I hope not of course, but i think its highly likely. If and when it does happen then i hope we milk every last penny we can get out of it. As for the quotes from the Spanish paper, as Mick said, Ronaldo couldnt have given them much less encouragement. Well he could, he could have said "I want to stay at Man U for the rest of my career", as other players have done, but he didnt talk up the move. Real seem tobe a law unto themselves when it comes to chasing players. The term "tapping up" obviously doesnt apply to them as they never get censured for it.

Frank, Old Trafford (30/01/2007 at 10:25)

It was AS actually, Mick. I saw it reported on Sky and their Spanish football expert guillem Balague, who is an AS reporter, also had a story trying to ridiclule Fergie's treatment of the press and basically saying that Fergie saying that Ron is not for sale doesn't mean a thing. AS had 2 reporters following Ron everywhere until he stopped and chose to speak to them after seeing a copy of their paper with his photo across the front page. The way it was reported implied that Ron wanted to speak about Real but he'd been ordered not to. The AS reporters then slagged off Manchester and its weather saying that both were grey and depressing and Ron said it was usually like that. They then tried to convince Ron that he'd be better off in Spain with some good weather and happy people. This is the same tactic they've used to get big name players in the past, namely Zidane and Ronaldo. The AS reporters are like commandos that go behind enemy lines and start a conflict. They'll probably be off to France next and have a go at Ribery who is also a target. It's only Jan and this will be going on till the summer! If we lose him, which is a strong possibility, it will basically end any hope of success in the short term.

Mick, Dublin (30/01/2007 at 10:26)

You can keep your magazine stats, Edinburgh Red, I watch United play on weekly basis and Carrick has improved our side massively. Huddlestone is a decent prospect but he's about as mobile as an anvil and Spurs are having a shocking season. You could probably find all that out if you want to, but you might need to read a few more magazines.

BALDERS, BACK ROW, TIER 2, STRETFORD (30/01/2007 at 10:34)

being realistic, it's only a matter of time but this time united must receive silly money and play hard ball ! Â£50 mill straight - & no payments based on where they'll finish in CL etc (ala Becks). If they want him - pay up ...or shut up. It'll be interesting to see how our so-called american businessmen deal with this saga and the pathetic games from madrid ! I hope he goes to barca, in a swap for Ronaldinho (so all thereds can just add a few letters onto their shirts!) plus Â£20 mill our way !!

James, Middleton (30/01/2007 at 10:56)

Here come all the doom merchants again. Only a short while ago, Ronnie was talking about how happy he was at OT and how he wanted to emulate the OT greats. Lets face it, he may have changed his mind or he may never have meant it in the first place. But why try to read something into his latest comments, if you're not going to put them in context with his previous ones. He said that he wanted to leave OT in the summer. Did he? No. Did Real or Barca even show an interest? No. He's contracted here until 2010, which puts the club firmly in the driving seat, as has been proved by the OH saga. What United need to do now is tie him down to a longer deal - perhaps 2012 - with a salary that makes him one of the worlds best paid players. Then they need to bring silverwear to OT - particularly the PL and CL titles. As a final point, there is no way that the Glazers would accept anything less than a world record bid for Ronaldo. They will know his worth, both as a footballer and marketing capacity. Therefore, I seriously doubt that eithe Real or Barca (or any club in the world, for that matter) could afford to spend that on one player.

Johnniejohn (the real one), tunbridge wells (30/01/2007 at 10:56)

Fergie is now saying that MU will no longer pay "silly money transfer fees". Which seems to translate into '700 million in debt and paying bank and legal fees of 60-130 million (take your pick), MU can no longer even compete with Spurs in the transfer market'. The additional stability that Gill claims the Glazers have brought means stability all right, no new faces to have to integrate, and plenty of existing faces sold, loaned out or made redundant!

Alf, Ipswich (30/01/2007 at 11:01)

I hope people will stop one day speaking about Carrick for the money we paid for him. He is a quality player who will improve personnaly and i have already started to improve our team. Personnaly i prefer Carrick to Huddesltone who is very slow moving around the pitch.
In regard to Ronaldo, i dont care what AS does as long as Fergie keeps his record of never seeing a 1st team player being sold because he wants to. In the opposite case we will have to make sure that Real or Barca breaks the transfer fee to get him and make sure that we have a player in exchange Messi for Barca and perhaps Diarra for Real Madrid.

mike, salford (30/01/2007 at 11:06)

Figures released by OT on this site last week. "Turnover: Â£165.4million (157.2million) Operating profits (before depreciation, amortisation and exceptionals): Â£49.7million (46.1million) Profits before tax: Â£30.8million (10.8million) AIG shirt sponsorship: Â£56.5million over four years AIG MU finance sponsorship: Â£4million a year for 7.5 years
Payments to agents in 2005-06: Â£1.8million (Â£2.6million)" After seeing their profits rise by Â£20million to Â£30.8million last year, minus Â£62million to debt repayment, that leaves Glazer Â£31.2million short. The sale of Ron will bridge that gap. Tara Ron.

Mick, Dublin (30/01/2007 at 11:08)

AS, Marca, tomato, tom-ah-to, bunch of shyster's the lot of 'em! Still don't think Ronnie could have handled it any better. He was just being polite and the weather stuff was small-talk really. As for Senor Ballague, isn't he the chap who had unique inside information that Torres was a nailed-on certainty to join United last summer? What reassures me is the fact that, in Fergie's entire time at United, he's never once sold a single player that he didn't want to sell. Obviously the Glazers are the unknown factor in all of this but, in terms of global marketing appeal, there's not a player that comes close to our Cristiano so I don't think you can put a price on the value of keeping him at United for the next few years.

Mercury, Brussels (30/01/2007 at 11:20)

AS is actually Real official magazine, ok, but Ronie should come out and say what Ruud said in his time at OT "I'm going nowhere, i want to be a United Legend", following that issue, United should make him the highest paid player in the world. And all this big mouth from Spain will button it, bos they don't have silly money to spend, if you're intested in spanish football clubs financials, you would appreciate that, except OSASUNA, they're all in huge debt! but the bottom line is that you can't keep a player who wants to leave, for all the contracs length and the money he gets

mickey, midlands (30/01/2007 at 11:43)

ronaldo's comments were worrying - he didn't say that he wants to stay at utd - i think he ultimately will leave - and it will be a mistake. real madrid are way off the pace. utd are building a team around him.
we should offer him an enormous salary and a contract extension. but if he goes, so what - we get 40 million to blitz in the summer.

Red Eyes, Manchester (30/01/2007 at 11:43)

Real Madrid only want him cos they have so many unsold "Ronaldo" shirts with the name on the back. That is the only reason they sign players!!

I agree with those who say that we should only want players who WANT to be a red. If any player cannot confirm that fact then we should not stand in their way. Many parallels with the OH saga and we have unsettled BM and are reaping our rewards with the Madrid interest in CR7. I dearly want him to stay, but the 'gagging' feature is strange. It would be really nice if CR7 was to say he wasn't interested in a move.

Steve, Brussels (30/01/2007 at 11:44)

Well we can all expect 'stories' from Marca and As all year about how he 'dreams in white', or was spotted with Calderon behind the grassy knoll in Lilliput. I cannot stand these jokers ever since I lived there a while and realised what the 'great' Real Madrid was really all about - a play-thing for bloated businessmen's egos. No morals, no humility and no respect for other clubs and the players they have. Someone said all we need is for Ronie to come out and say he is happy. Well he has done so emphatically at least twice since Christmas. This rubbish will come from Marca, As, the Mirror, Sun, Star and all the rest every week. Why should he react to every bit of gutter press garbage? Mijatovic giving this "we will give them an offer they can't refuse" .... so what. Pathetic. Unless he dreamt of running away to the circus as a lad why would he want to go where his Brazilian namesake has just referred to as "hell" exactly? How can we stop the 'great' Real? Quite simple really. Ronie is contracted until 2010. The answer "No" to a bid should cover it. Given some of the comments I am glad that a number of you are beginning to understand the antics of the Real Madrid circus. Every time i see the words "respected Spanish press" attached to Marca or As in an article I just have to laugh. Jokers

Utd-For-Life, marseille ex-stretford (30/01/2007 at 12:00)

Ronaldo no doubt entertains ideas of one day playing in spain for one of either madrid or barca. The top spanish and italian teams have always had the edge on british clubs when it comes to attracting the very best. How many times have we lost out to barca and madrid when going for certain players? The difference with ronaldo is that he's already contracted to and playing for this great club, and won't be going anywhere unless the club decides to let him go. As has rightly been pointed out, fergie has never sold a player that he wanted to keep at the club. I doubt that ronaldo will be any different.

Birdy, Ireland (30/01/2007 at 12:01)

The one worrying thing for me is that when Gill was talking about a proposed bid from Real for Ronaldo, whilst saying he didnt want to sell him, he said he would have to put it to the Glazers. Now this may be a standard thing but it still unnerves me. The reason being we all know that there is no way on Gods green earth SAF would want to sell Ronaldo. As such IMO any bid we get should we summarily dismissed, and shouldnt have to be run past the Glazers. The fact that it does have to go by them indicates to me that there is a chance, small maybe, but a chance, that they might go "ohh thats a good offer...". Any bid for one of our players, particularly one of our best, shouldnt pass under the nose of the Glazers unless referred to them by SAF to accept or negotiate. This indicates to me that under the new owners SAF may not have the final say on who goes

Dean, Blackpool (30/01/2007 at 12:06)

I like everybody else would love him to stay for the rest of his career but i really can't see it, And would be really suprised if we got 1 or 2 more seasons out of him, And it makes me wonder if there is any point in keeping him beyond the summer if your trying to build a young team that will stay together for years, Shouldn't we just demand silly money for him then go and get lennon who in my eyes is the only real alternative and if it's left to long with him chelsea will probably start sniffing around.

Shalala, Lusaka, Zambia (30/01/2007 at 12:14)

Mick, Dublin - You are a true red and an intelligent one at that.

()

Report

Manchester United