Barca play down Ronaldo rumours

February 08, 2007

IN DEMAND: Cristiano Ronaldo

BARCELONA director of football Txiki Begiristain has denied his club has moved to sign United winger Cristiano Ronaldo through the player's agent.

Begiristain was photographed with Jorge Mendes, the 22-year-old's representative, watching Portugal's match with Brazil at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night.

The pair were reported to have met beforehand in a London hotel, fuelling renewed rumours that the Catalan giants, last season's Champions League winners, might be preparing a summer bid for Ronaldo.

But Begiristain was coy when quizzed about what could amount to an illegal approach for the former Sporting Lisbon player.

"It's true that we met but I don't want it to appear that Ronaldo was the only subject we talked about," he told the Daily Mail. "Mendes is my friend and we speak often.

Interest

"Of course, it is logical that we are interested in Ronaldo, but I must stress we are a big club and we will work in the proper way."

Barca vice-president Ferran Soriano has also insisted the Catalan giants have made no approach to sign Ronaldo.

éJorge Mendes is the agent for many of our players, including Deco, so this meeting does not mean anything,é Soriano told BBC Radio Five Live.

éThere has been no approach to the player or Manchester United.

éIn general terms, we do like to sign the best players in the world but we already have Ronaldinho, Samuel Etoéo and Lionel Messi in this type of position.é

United have insisted Ronaldo is not for sale.

What do you think? Have your say.

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Ronny, Manchester (08/02/2007 at 10:03)

All the spanish clubs work in a dirty way if the want to sign a player. But the english press is doing enough that Ronaldo wants to leave England.

mike, flixton (08/02/2007 at 10:11)

unfortunately where there's smoke, there's fire. Unless Ronaldo accepts any new offer put in front of him then i expect a full on assulat from Barce and madrid in the summer. He should be offered a new contract, ok footballers get paid obscene money - but forgetting the reality of that he's simply earning half of what rooney and ferninand are getting. He's getting less than giggs, scholes, neville - and in that context what ever job you're in - if you're performing as well or better than your workmates you're gonna be disgruntled unless you're earning at least the same. My main worry though is when these rumours start he never commits himself to the club and says how much he loves it. I think we could be in for a bit of a nervous summer.

Jonathan Chin, Penang (08/02/2007 at 10:17)

I suspect Barca intend to hurt us by this kind of rubbish rumours. They know United will knock them out or Champion League later if we keep winning in "united" way..

Spike, Ldn (08/02/2007 at 10:19)

How would he even fit into there team, c'mon are they gonna throw out messi, ronaldinho, eto'o? The scary thing is they have the two hottest teenagers in football that will make a breakthrough probably next season Bojan Krkic and Giovanni Dos Santos. There is alot of hype about the latter but if you have time to burn go see the skills of both these wizz kids on YouTube. Bojan Krkic has incredible feet the ball literally sticks to his feet and trust me he scores for fun, over 800 career goals as a youth. We have Roo and Ron but we have nothing in our youth system like these two kids. So yep I'm not too sure that Barca really need CR7

Mercury, Brussels (08/02/2007 at 10:21)

HE'LL LEAVE US! HE DIDN'T COMITTED HIS FUTURE TO UNITED AND THEY ARE STILL TO PUT THE HUGE OFFER ON THE TABLE. SPANISH PAPERS SAY TODAY : "CR HAS OPENED THE DOOR FOR REAL, THEY WILL OFFER HIM MORE MONEY, IMAGES RIGHTS AND MAKE HIM THE STAR OF TEAM, WICH WILL NOT BE THE CASE AT BARCA WHERE HE'LL HAVE TO COMPETE WITH THE LIKES OF RONALDINHO AND ETO'O IN TERMES OF MARKETING REVENUES AND LEADERSHIP" FOR ALL THAT PREMATURE OR RIDICULOUS IT MIGHT SOUNDS, REMEMBER HOW THEY DID WITH BEKCS AND RVN. EVEN IF THOSE PLAYERS WERE NO LONGER IN SAF PECKING ORDER. THE ENGLISH AND SPANISH PRESS ARE UNSETTLING RONALDO, ADD TO HIS DESIRE TO PLAY IN SPAIN....SELL HIM FOR THE HUGEST FEE EVER PAID FOR A PLAYER

Alias Smith, over the moon (08/02/2007 at 10:42)

Mercury, why on earth would he go to Madrid, a club floundering under the years of a failed Galactico policy and constantly changing managers? As things stand, there must be every chance Capello will be shown the door at the end of this season - he has already had the dreaded vote of "confidence". IMO, there is no way Real can attract brilliant young talent from Europe's top clubs; players like RvN, Becks who are passed their peak and need a move yes, the likes of Ronaldo, no - it would almost be professional suicide.

Birdy, Ireland (08/02/2007 at 10:49)

Mike i agree regards the contract. The money theyre earning is obscene, but at the same time Ronaldo should not be getting less than Neville or Rio or pretty much anyone else for that matter. His current deal is up in 2010. The way contracts seem to go these days, 2 yrs left on a deal for a top player is seen being short term and peopl estart to questio what will happen the following season when theres only a yr left. As it stands then he has 3 yrs left. I think we're in the process of putting a new contract to him, so hopefully we do and he signs it. If not i wouldnt panic, but come next summer, if he still hadnt signed a new deal, then we would have to sell him because his value would start to drop then as his contract begins to run down. Of course if we offer him a new deal and he signs it then we can all relax

chris, oxford (08/02/2007 at 10:54)

Alias: Unfortunately Real still carry the reputation and standing of Europes top club with their tradition and history, not sure if players really think about the state of the team - it's the prestige of playing for them.

Graham, Manc (08/02/2007 at 11:09)

I agree with Mike, Flixton. Ronaldo doesn't commit himself to United in public and that's the main worry. He won't go in the summer because he will still have 3 years left on his current contract. If he refuses to sign a new contract, they will sell him the following year. I think United are in great shape for the next few years, although I would like to see some more young attacking stars in the making. All our brightest prospects are defenders - Evans, Pique, Simpson and maybe Bale in the summer. I don't think Rossi will stay in the UK - he's technically brilliant but he doesn't have pace or strength.

mark, rochdale (08/02/2007 at 11:21)

NO not again more ronaldo tap up talk,isnt any body sick of it too the back teeth,if hes going to go then thats it nothing any body can do about it.
Just sell for a massive sum and get on with it,Ive said it once or twice and ill say it again sign mort gamst pedersen from black burn in the summer.class act brilliant skill and goals and speed,all in all the best buy ive seen for 1.5million. even a steal.

MOHAMMED LOPEZ, ESPANA (08/02/2007 at 11:28)

ITS TRUE RONALDO WANTS TO JOIN MADRID. I AM A VERY CLOSE FRIENDS WITH PREGDAN MIJATOVICH AND RONALDO IS BEING LINED UP TO REPLACE BECKHAM ITS GOING TO HAPPEN ENJOY HIM WHILE IT LASTS.
OH AND LUIS ALVES IS A FOOTBAL AGENT IN SPAIN AND HAS ALOT OF PEOPLE IN THE KNOW SO IF HE SAYS ITS HAPPENING HES PROBLEY RIGHT!!!

Duncan, London (08/02/2007 at 11:40)

Mohammed Lopez - we know they want him - noone is questioning that. Whether they will GET him is another thing totally. I don't see how we can't offer him exactly the same pay conditions as Real or Barcelone are offering. We are as rich give or take as Real so long as the Glazers keep their fingers out the till. This is not like the Munich situation where BM are paying Hargreaves only 15k a week, United pay well and are flexible. I see Ronaldo as a hugely marketable commodity and United should be doing their utmost to maximise income from this fact and he entirely reasonably should get a large slice of that.

Ronny, Manchester (08/02/2007 at 11:42)

A good friend of Mijatovic, are you kidding???

Alias Smith, over the moon (08/02/2007 at 11:44)

chris, I think that's a little simplistic. The list of bright young talent they have signed in the last couple of seasons is hardly a lengthy one! And the ones they have attracted have hardly prosperred. Players of the calibre we are talking about above all want to win things and Real does not look the place to go for success anytime soon. I could understand a player's head being turned by Barca but who would want to leave a club like United for Real, unless it was just for the Madrid weather?

Birdy, Ireland (08/02/2007 at 11:55)

Alias i think you probably have to take into account where Ronaldo's from. I know Madrid look pretty ropey at the moment but they still have a great history and are a glamourous club. They could quite conceivbly be attractive to him. If it were say, Rooney, or another British player, then i would think Barca would be the favourites between the two as they are currently the better side and look more organised and stable on and off the pitch, but to a player from Iberia that mightnt be as important

Thomas, Norway (08/02/2007 at 12:01)

Ronaldo will leave in the summer. The club and fans must prepare for it. We need to identify a new winger who can replace him. When Ronaldo leave it will be for a record fee that will stand for many years. He is the most talented player in the world, and the fee must reflect that. The record of the Zidane transfer will be smashed like a bug.

Alias Smith, over the moon (08/02/2007 at 12:02)

Birdy, between your comments yesterday about Liverpool's new owners and Madrid today, I am starting to think you are a graduate of The Grass is always Greener University. Lest we forget, Ronaldo already plays for one of the world's biggest clubs. A club that wants to keep him and whose history is of playing the game in exactly the way that suits his great talent.

TMUF, Manchester (08/02/2007 at 12:04)

Ronaldo said: "I've got a contract with United. If they speak to anyone it's my agent, not me. I told my agent I'm happy here and want to continue.

"It's a kind of football in Spaint hat attracts me, but at the moment I don't want to leave here. I've been here for a while and every year I try to get better and better.

"I've had to adapt to the culture, the football, the life and I think I've adapted well.

"It's more or less what I expected to happen. I'm enjoying my career here.

"We've got a good lead in the Premiership and the chances of winning the league this year are great.

"Chelsea are a great team, but we're on the right path.

"We're playing good football, we've been the consistent team and if things continue that way we can win the championship.

"My dream of winning the league is very much alive.

"I want to win all the trophies. It could almost be the perfect year."

George, RHYL (08/02/2007 at 12:09)

Most of the the newspapers are London based.Most clubs in the football world would want Ronaldo.It's in too many peoples interest to turn Ronaldo's head.It doesn't look good.It would be another big plus for SAF if he stays.

redredbobbins, gudoleusofa (08/02/2007 at 12:09)

He'll go, because the Glazers will see the dollar signs.

MOHAMMED LOPEZ, ESPANA (08/02/2007 at 12:21)

OK MIJATOVIC MAYBE ISNT A GOOD FRIEND, I MET HIM AT A DINNER SPEACH FOR REAL MADRID, AND I FELT LIKE A FREIND, BUT RONALDO WAS THE TALK OF THE TOPIC THEN, HIS INTENTIONS WAS THAT REAL WAS REBUILDING AS THE ZIDANES FIGOS BECKHAMS RAULS HAVE ALL AGED AND THEY NEED TO BRING THE FUTURE BACK! RONALDO ALONG WITH REYES IS THE START, KAKA IS BEING MENTIONED, AND THEIR HAS EVEN BEEN TALK OF ROONEY COMING IN TIME, LUIS ALVES WHO QUOTED ON EARLIER POSTS HIS A FOOTBALL AGENT IN ESPANA, HE ONCE REPRESENTED DIEGO TRISTAN! WHAT HE KNOWS MAYBE INSIDE INFO, AND AS WE KNOW REAL GET WHOEVER THEY WANT!!!!!

ericcantona'ssardines, anywherebuthere (08/02/2007 at 12:28)

Barca too big a club to turn down, simple as that.

Phil, Donegal, Eire (08/02/2007 at 12:44)

OK Mohammed, now we know you're talking rubbish, Reyes has been pretty poor for Real as far as I know. Hardly to be mentioned in the same breath as Ronaldo.

TMUF, Manchester (08/02/2007 at 12:46)

MOHAMMED LOPEZ, ESPANA
and we would like Henry, Gerrard, Ronaldhino, messi and Kaka. I'm a good friend of SAF and he said those players would improve the team. WOW all those players mentioned and not one from Real Madrd who would improve our team. We have about 11 players who would improve Madrdid so surely Mijatovic is interested in each and every?

steve, Glossop (08/02/2007 at 12:52)

The lure of Spain is a tricky one. We need to make sure the club matches his ambition & a biggy for that is transfers. Like Duncan said somewhere look at someone like Queresma to challange/replace Giggs etc. Carrick a good player but not a star who's going to change games with his careful style so come on Glazers you've done Jack as far as really investing money into the team.

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