Here's the good news. Cristiano Ronaldo has been voted FIFA World Player of the Year. It is well deserved and there's no need to debate that fact.
Now the bad news, despite Ronaldo recently stating there's no agreement with Florentino Perez to join Real Madrid in the summer of 2009, Spanish rumour monger Guillem Balague is claiming that the Portuguese winger will join Real as his agent has an agreement with Ramon Calderon.
United fans are sick and tired of hearing about this story and it's disappointing that it looks like we will have to put up with this tiresome saga again this summer.
Balague has added the rider that Ferguson is a major obstacle in the way of any potential deal.
While I'd like to completely dismiss this story, sadly I obviously cannot because it is the second time within the space of a week that it has surfaced, what's more, Ronaldo hasn't been at his deadly best this season, he looks to be holding back slightly, but he remains a very important player. It is therefore likely that Ferguson's resolve to keep the player will remain as strong as ever.
The United manager and Reds fans around the world will not be best pleased to learn that Balague is suggesting Ronaldo and his agent have a sealed this agreement with Ramon Calderon, and that the player is now prepared to request a transfer from Manchester United.
It is time for Ronaldo to tell truth about his future intentions.
Showing posts with label Real Madrid. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Real Madrid. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Monday, October 27, 2008
Brown-nosing Real Madrid trying to get Ronaldo on the cheap?
Real Madrid's silence over the future of Cristiano Ronaldo was all too short, when they knew United were not going to sell their star player to the Spaniards' in the last transfer window, they somewhat reluctantly threw in the towel and temporarily conceded defeat.
Since then we've heard the usual media wind-bags, aka 'informed sources', spinning various lines such as "Real are no longer interested in Ronaldo". However, about a week ago, Bernt Schuster, the Madrid coach, stated that, yes indeed, his club still wants to sign Ronaldo.
In the summer Real used every trick in the book to try to force United to sell Ronaldo, there was even talk that they wanted the player to go on strike and again if we believe what the 'insiders' tell us to be true, the fact that he did not withdraw his labour allegedly upset the Spanish club.
Whatever the truth behind the rumours surrounding talk that Ronaldo was to go on strike, Real Madrid's heavy-handed media assault failed - it was a total disaster because they also lost Robinho.
It came as no surprise then to hear Ramon Calderon over the weekend stating that they don't want to upset United. Clearly having failed with the battering-ram, the Madrid president has changed tactics, because he's now trying to give us the impression that his club are distancing themselves from Ronaldo.
Coming on the back of the latest spin emanating from the Real Madrid president, is it not a bit strange that Marca of all media outlets published quotes attributed to Ronaldo which state that he has committed his future to Manchester United, with the added rider that "I'm happy for now"?
When you think about Madrid's media led summer pursuit of Ronaldo, it was handled very badly, it was dumb, because Ronaldo's price was probably as high as it was ever going to be. Following on from the failed transfer coup of last summer, it appears that Madrid have launched a slightly more subtle approach, with a view to possibly capturing the player for a lot less money.
The form of Ronaldo hasn't reached the heights of last season, there has been various theories punted about this, such as he's not yet fit following his operation. Then there are those who believe that perhaps Ronaldo is holding back.
The very fact that Ronaldo's quotes appeared in Marca adds a certain amount of weight to the theory that this latest burst of media activity surrounding Ronaldo's future is suspicious to say the least. Personally, I don't trust Marca - do they have an office at the Madrid club?
My gut instinct is that Calderon's recent statement over Ronaldo should be dismissed out of hand; the same can be said of the Ronaldo quotes in Marca. What we are seeing is the beginnings of another orchestrated media-led campaign to capture the player next summer.
Ronaldo's future pledge would have more credence if he'd spoken to the British media, rather than the Real Madrid publicity machine that is Marca. Until I hear Ronaldo say that he is totally committed to United I simply do not believe it.
Like many other sensible United fans, I have been more than happy to back Ferguson over Ronaldo and I hope that his faith will be rewarded with yet more silverware. If United win the title or the Champions League again this season, Ronaldo can go as far as I'm concerned, I suspect Fergie has hinted as much to the player, but again I think we the fans should back the manager's judgement over this issue.
Time will tell if I'm right or wrong over Real Madrid's media antics.
Since then we've heard the usual media wind-bags, aka 'informed sources', spinning various lines such as "Real are no longer interested in Ronaldo". However, about a week ago, Bernt Schuster, the Madrid coach, stated that, yes indeed, his club still wants to sign Ronaldo.
In the summer Real used every trick in the book to try to force United to sell Ronaldo, there was even talk that they wanted the player to go on strike and again if we believe what the 'insiders' tell us to be true, the fact that he did not withdraw his labour allegedly upset the Spanish club.
Whatever the truth behind the rumours surrounding talk that Ronaldo was to go on strike, Real Madrid's heavy-handed media assault failed - it was a total disaster because they also lost Robinho.
It came as no surprise then to hear Ramon Calderon over the weekend stating that they don't want to upset United. Clearly having failed with the battering-ram, the Madrid president has changed tactics, because he's now trying to give us the impression that his club are distancing themselves from Ronaldo.
Coming on the back of the latest spin emanating from the Real Madrid president, is it not a bit strange that Marca of all media outlets published quotes attributed to Ronaldo which state that he has committed his future to Manchester United, with the added rider that "I'm happy for now"?
When you think about Madrid's media led summer pursuit of Ronaldo, it was handled very badly, it was dumb, because Ronaldo's price was probably as high as it was ever going to be. Following on from the failed transfer coup of last summer, it appears that Madrid have launched a slightly more subtle approach, with a view to possibly capturing the player for a lot less money.
The form of Ronaldo hasn't reached the heights of last season, there has been various theories punted about this, such as he's not yet fit following his operation. Then there are those who believe that perhaps Ronaldo is holding back.
The very fact that Ronaldo's quotes appeared in Marca adds a certain amount of weight to the theory that this latest burst of media activity surrounding Ronaldo's future is suspicious to say the least. Personally, I don't trust Marca - do they have an office at the Madrid club?
My gut instinct is that Calderon's recent statement over Ronaldo should be dismissed out of hand; the same can be said of the Ronaldo quotes in Marca. What we are seeing is the beginnings of another orchestrated media-led campaign to capture the player next summer.
Ronaldo's future pledge would have more credence if he'd spoken to the British media, rather than the Real Madrid publicity machine that is Marca. Until I hear Ronaldo say that he is totally committed to United I simply do not believe it.
Like many other sensible United fans, I have been more than happy to back Ferguson over Ronaldo and I hope that his faith will be rewarded with yet more silverware. If United win the title or the Champions League again this season, Ronaldo can go as far as I'm concerned, I suspect Fergie has hinted as much to the player, but again I think we the fans should back the manager's judgement over this issue.
Time will tell if I'm right or wrong over Real Madrid's media antics.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Why Ronaldo WON'T be joining Madrid this summer...
Manchester United finally lost patience with Real Madrid earlier this week when reporting the Spanish club to FIFA over their continued pursuit of Cristiano Ronaldo. Many pundits in the media are rightly speculating that FIFA will give Madrid little more than a warning on this issue, but the very fact that the Reds have taken this action should be viewed as significant because it means that the club have once again publicly made clear their intent on retaining Ronaldo.
Fergie and David Gill have both stated that the player is going nowhere on numerous occasions. There is no way that United can or will make a complete about turn and sell the player now - how could they after so many declarations and public statements?
Madrid for their part have resorted to desperate measures by allegedly telling Ronaldo to go on strike. The Spanish Champions will doubtless continue to try to unsettle the player, but after being reported to FIFA they will surely know that as far as this summer is concerned the game is well and truly up.
Do not be surprised if Madrid make some sort of half-hearted public apology over the coming days in a bid to mend damaged relations.
Fergie and David Gill have both stated that the player is going nowhere on numerous occasions. There is no way that United can or will make a complete about turn and sell the player now - how could they after so many declarations and public statements?
Madrid for their part have resorted to desperate measures by allegedly telling Ronaldo to go on strike. The Spanish Champions will doubtless continue to try to unsettle the player, but after being reported to FIFA they will surely know that as far as this summer is concerned the game is well and truly up.
Do not be surprised if Madrid make some sort of half-hearted public apology over the coming days in a bid to mend damaged relations.
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Scolari hints at Ronaldo move to Real Madrid...
Luiz Felipe Scolari has allowed himself to be dragged into Real Madrid's odious and seemingly increasingly desperate attempts to sign Cristiano Ronaldo, speaking to the press at Portugal's Euro 2008 training camp, 'Big Phil' said "I have said to him that in soccer it is not lived on the memories and that there are to take the opportunities when they arrive, because perhaps they do not return in life". Readers of this blog will not be surprised to learn that Marca - Real Madrid's unofficial mouthpiece reported the story.
The sooner Ronaldo ends this speculation by committing his immediate future to United the better, that may not happen until after Euro 2008 but after the Champions League final the player did say that he would make a statement in 15 days time. We live in hope that he is true to his word and then perhaps we the fans can fully focus on new player acquisitions.
The sooner Ronaldo ends this speculation by committing his immediate future to United the better, that may not happen until after Euro 2008 but after the Champions League final the player did say that he would make a statement in 15 days time. We live in hope that he is true to his word and then perhaps we the fans can fully focus on new player acquisitions.
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Real Madrid no longer calling the shots in the transfer market...
There was a time not so long ago that a click of El Presidente's fingers would have seen the biggest names in world football scurrying to sign for Real Madrid. However, things appear to have changed somewhat over the last couple of years. Madrid tried and failed to sign our very own Cristiano Ronaldo, they would no doubt have loved to have signed Thierry Henry too, but they did not.
Madrid are currently trying to prize away two Chelsea players in Robben and Ballack, but times have changed I suspect that they will only be allowed to leave Chelsea if the blues want either or both of them out of the door.
Many fans despise many things about the 'play thing' that is Roman Abramovich's Chelsea, but at least the Russian's cash has made it more interesting at the very top end of the European transfer market.
Some things haven't changed though and that is Madrid's seemingly never ending efforts to unsettle players. Bernd Schuster, the Real coach, this week openly invited Ballack to join him at the Bernabeau. Today it's being reported that next summer's No 1 transfer target is Arsenal's Cesc Fàbregas.
Ramón Calderón, the current President has made the rather bold prediction that Madrid will eventually capture Robben, Fàbregas and Kaká: “There’s a chance that they will all be here by the end of my third year in office.” When asked if that could mean Robben this summer, Fàbregas next year and Kaká the next year, Calderón said: “I think so.”
Arsenal only allowed Henry to join Barca because Wenger was happy for that to happen. The same will no doubt apply to Fàbregas, any deal for the Spaniard will be on the Frenchman's terms.
Wenger is a very smooth operator in the transfer market, there is none better. Added to which, unlike Madrid the north London club doesn't have a policy of unsettling other clubs and their star players.
Many Reds supporters despise everything that the 'new Chelsea' stands for and in particular Peter Kenyon (the 'Manchester United fan'), but even the former Reds marketing man doesn't go around openly stating that he will soon sign a top trio from Arsenal, AC Milan and Chelsea. Madrid's continued public advances towards rival star players should be dealt with by UEFA, but don't hold your breath...
Real are still of course a massive club and only a fool would argue otherwise, but they are no longer getting their own way where it concerns signing the very top players because they are no longer calling the shots in the transfer market, they even contrived to allow Beckham to slip through their fingertips.
Madrid are currently trying to prize away two Chelsea players in Robben and Ballack, but times have changed I suspect that they will only be allowed to leave Chelsea if the blues want either or both of them out of the door.
Many fans despise many things about the 'play thing' that is Roman Abramovich's Chelsea, but at least the Russian's cash has made it more interesting at the very top end of the European transfer market.
Some things haven't changed though and that is Madrid's seemingly never ending efforts to unsettle players. Bernd Schuster, the Real coach, this week openly invited Ballack to join him at the Bernabeau. Today it's being reported that next summer's No 1 transfer target is Arsenal's Cesc Fàbregas.
Ramón Calderón, the current President has made the rather bold prediction that Madrid will eventually capture Robben, Fàbregas and Kaká: “There’s a chance that they will all be here by the end of my third year in office.” When asked if that could mean Robben this summer, Fàbregas next year and Kaká the next year, Calderón said: “I think so.”
Arsenal only allowed Henry to join Barca because Wenger was happy for that to happen. The same will no doubt apply to Fàbregas, any deal for the Spaniard will be on the Frenchman's terms.
Wenger is a very smooth operator in the transfer market, there is none better. Added to which, unlike Madrid the north London club doesn't have a policy of unsettling other clubs and their star players.
Many Reds supporters despise everything that the 'new Chelsea' stands for and in particular Peter Kenyon (the 'Manchester United fan'), but even the former Reds marketing man doesn't go around openly stating that he will soon sign a top trio from Arsenal, AC Milan and Chelsea. Madrid's continued public advances towards rival star players should be dealt with by UEFA, but don't hold your breath...
Real are still of course a massive club and only a fool would argue otherwise, but they are no longer getting their own way where it concerns signing the very top players because they are no longer calling the shots in the transfer market, they even contrived to allow Beckham to slip through their fingertips.
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