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Guest · Posted: Wed Feb 07, 2007 6:51 am Post subject:

Ronaldo sparks doubt on future

February 07, 2007

CRISTIANO RONALDO has cast doubt over his future by refusing to pledge himself to Manchester United.

Ronaldo, a £40million target for Real Madrid and Barcelona, said: “I don’t know where I will be in the space of the next six months.

"For the moment, I’m only thinking about training well every day.”

Barca’s director of football Txiki Begiristain watched Ronaldo play for Portugal against Brazil in a friendly at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium last night.

United are prepared to double his £50,000-a- week salary in a new deal that would keep him at the club until 2012.

Ronaldo added: “The only thing I am sure about is I want to continue at the level I’ve reached and aim to improve even more.”

The winger, who turned 22 on Monday, also hailed Barca ace Deco.

He said: “He is one of the best players I’ve ever shared a team with.”

Guest · Posted: Thu Feb 08, 2007 4:46 am Post subject:

Keep your hands off Ronaldo

February 06, 2007

CRISTIANO RONALDO will be handed a whopping £26million contract to stay at Manchester United.

Real Madrid and Barcelona are both trying to entice Ronaldo with a £40m transfer.

But United’s No 2 Carlos Queiroz last night hailed the Portuguese wing star as football’s Michael Jordan and told the Spanish giants to forget any bids.

Queiroz said: “No, he will not be leaving us and, in addition to that, we are speaking with him about renewing his contract.”

He predicted Ronaldo, 22 yesterday, will have the same effect on sport as US basketball star Jordan.

Queiroz added: “I’ve seen many players throughout my career but I believe over the next decade Cristiano will be European football’s equivalent to Jordan in the NBA.

“The kid has a divine talent. I have never seen a player with this level of ability.

"He has technique, physique, athleticism and imagination and added to all this is his attitude in training and matches.

“He will be a star for the best part of 10 years.”

Portugal boss Phil Scolari told Spanish paper Mundo Deportivo Ronaldo would benefit by joining Barca.

And that would have especially angered Queiroz, who fell out with Scolari in dramatic style last November when the Brazilian coach claimed the United man was after after his job.

Ronaldo has a deal which runs until 2010 but United are now negotiating a bumper new five-year contract to keep him until 2012.

United want to double his current deal to put him alongside top earners like Wayne Rooney and Rio Ferdinand on £100,000 a week.

Queiroz said: “The club have a clear policy. It is not necessary that a player has to finish his contract before we think about renewing it. Ryan Giggs has been with us for 14 years and he has renewed his contract many times.

“This club does not need agents to recognise the work of the players.

“We anticipate things ourselves and that is what we are going to do with Cristiano.”

Guest · Posted: Thu Feb 08, 2007 4:47 am Post subject:

Spurs face video rap

TOTTENHAM are facing a rap from Premier League chiefs after screening Cristiano Ronaldo’s video nasty to irate fans at White Hart Lane.

Spurs showed big-screen slow-motion replays of Ronaldo’s controversial tumble, which won a penalty from ref Mark Clattenburg in Manchester United’s 4-0 win on Sunday.

Just before the break, Ronaldo went down after Steed Malbranque’s challenge and the Portuguese winger duly opened the scoring from the spot.

Football chiefs are now ready to remind Spurs that clubs are forbidden from showing replays of contentious incidents to the crowd.

But Spurs full-back Lee Young-Pyo, who was close to the incident, said: “Steed and I didn’t touch him. I think he dived. I don’t know why he fell. It’s a great pity.

“I can’t understand why some players would do that. I’m disappointed.”

Guest · Posted: Thu Feb 08, 2007 4:51 am Post subject:

Ronaldo agent meets Mr Fixit

February 08, 2007

THIS is the moment Cristiano Ronaldo’s agent met Barcelona’s Mr Fixit.

The Manchester United star’s representative, Jorge Mendes, and Barca Director of Football Txiki Begiristain linked up at a London hotel on Tuesday.

They then sat together to watch Ronaldo in action in Portugal’s 2-0 win over Brazil at the Emirates Stadium.

United manager Alex Ferguson will be furious if their meeting leads to a bid from Barca for the Portuguese wing wizard.

The La Liga champions and fellow Spanish giants Real Madrid have made no secret of their desire to land Ronaldo in the summer.

Barca coach Frank Rijkaard clearly rates the 22-year-old and said: “Without a doubt, he is one of the most valuable players in world football.”

So valuable, it seems, that to get the player Barca would even top the world record transfer fee of £47million that Real paid for Zinedine Zidane if that is Rijkaard’s wish.

Club vice-president Ferran Soriano said: “The signing of Cristiano Ronaldo is a question for the coaching staff as they will decide. If it’s what they want, in terms of economic ability Barcelona are able to sign anyone.

“We are happy with the players we have and must continue following the criteria set by Begiristain and Rijkaard.

“We won’t sign anyone who has not been recommended by them. We are not driven to buy stars. We are interested only in players who will improve the team.”

Begiristain said he had done nothing wrong by meeting Mendes, who is also Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho’s agent.

He declared: “Jorge Mendes is my friend. I’ve known him years. He represents various players in our squad.

“This trip has been planned for some time. Barca has to be represented at these events and I’m doing my job, which is seeing matches.”

Begiristain was also at Old Trafford last night to check on another Barca target — Chelsea’s Frank Lampard in action for England against Spain.

Rijkaard is a huge admirer of Lampard, 28, who will be available for £8.5m at the end of the season if he snubs a new Blues contract.

Guest · Posted: Thu Feb 08, 2007 4:56 am Post subject:

Robson: Cristiano must stay

February 08, 2007

BRYAN ROBSON believes it is vital Manchester United persuade Cristiano Ronaldo to stay with the club.

The Portuguese winger has become the most valuable player in football after an outstanding season at Old Trafford that has seen him hit 17 goals already for club and country.

Ronaldo is a £40million summer target for Barcelona and Real Madrid, with bookies offering 9-4 he will play at the Nou Camp next season.

Yesterday SunSport exclusively revealed the 22-year-old had cast doubt over his future at United when he admitted he ‘didn’t know where he would be in the space of the next six months’.

Despite saying he is happy at United, Ronaldo has admitted he is attracted to Spanish football — and that will be music to the ears of Barca and Real.

But Old Trafford and England legend Robbo is horrified at the thought of him quitting United.

He said: “It is vital to keep him — he is crucial to United.

“I don’t see any reason why they would let him go.

“He is contracted to United and has been a massive player for them this season.”

Robson fears the boo-boys will drive Ronaldo out of the Premiership after his role in getting Wayne Rooney sent off at last summer’s World Cup quarter-finals — and his cheeky wink to the Portugal bench.

Captain Marvel added: “I think what may be unsettling him at the moment is that he loves it at United but fans everywhere he goes are booing him.

“Everyone keeps going on about the diving thing but he is playing terrific and maybe he feels he doesn’t deserve it.

“But as far as I’m concerned Alex Ferguson will do his best to make sure he remains a United player for the next few years. It’s very important.”
Despite Ronnie’s claims he is happy at Old Trafford right now he cannot hide his love for the game Spain.

The wing wizard said: “It’s a kind of football that attracts me but at the moment I don’t want to leave here.

“I’m at United, I’m happy and I want to continue. I’ve a contract with Manchester United.”

But that did not stop his agent, Jorge Mendes, cosying up next to Barca’s director of football Txiki Begiristain at the Emirates on Tuesday.

The pair watched Ronaldo play for Portugal in the 2-0 win over Brazil and Fergie would love to know what they were nattering about.

For now, at least, Ronaldo wants to concentrate on his dream of winning a Premiership title medal.

He has been instrumental in helping United open up a six-point lead over reigning champs Chelsea.

The lightning-fast winger is also the club’s top scorer so far this season with 15 top-flight goals.

And he said: “My dream of winning the league is very much alive.

“We have a good lead and the chances of winning the league this season are great — but nothing is guaranteed.

“We’re on the right path. We’re playing good football, we’ve been the most consistent team and if things continue that way, we can win the championship.”

Ronaldo has shown a great strength of character to perform to his high standards since the summer. In the last year he has had to deal with the death of his father and endure the ongoing World Cup rumpus.

He said: “I’ve coped with the pressure through working.

“There are times when there really is a lot of pressure but I always try to feel good, be on form and concentrate on the game.

“It’s important to have belief in yourself and your ability, which I have.

“Football is both mental and physical. There are days when you’re not good mentally and things don’t go well but it’s fundamental to be good physically on those days — and vice versa.

“I’m having a good phase and I hope to continue and maintain a high level in my career.

“I have improved every year and I want to be better still.

“I’ve worked hard and we can see the results. And I’m mentally stronger, as we saw at the World Cup. I haven’t changed anything, I’ve just added to it. In a lot of aspects I am more mature.

“It’s a case of using your experience to apply your skills in a game.

“For example, choosing the right moment to dribble, pass or help the team defend more.”

Growing up in Madeira he was beaten up by older kids for regularly embarrassing them with his dazzling skills.

Amazingly, some people told him he would never be a footballer because he was too small — he now stands 6ft 1in.

Ronaldo added: “I remember people saying I couldn’t be a professional because I was too short.”Then, between the ages of 15 and 18, I jumped up and became as tall as I am now.

“When I was playing in the street it was always against older boys who were bigger than me.

“I suffered because I had good ability. Sometimes when I played against the older boys and I tricked them, they didn’t like it and they beat me up.”

Ronaldo still gets frustrated by the rough treatment he gets from defenders.

And he denies he is a diver and believes referees just do not give him enough protection.

He said: “It’s a different game in Portugal. If you watch Portuguese matches on telly you’ll see that straight away.

“But the rules should be the same everywhere. If it’s a free-kick, the referee should give one. But here, referees chose to ignore fouls a lot of the time.

“Football is different here, with a different mentality. English football is very different.

“Portuguese, Spanish and Brazilian football is more technical.

“But I’m not going to stop trying to beat defenders in England.

“I don’t think I should change. I think the referees here favour defenders.”

Guest · Posted: Sat Feb 10, 2007 2:34 am Post subject:

Sir Alex raps Ron exit talk

February 10, 2007

ALEX FERGUSON believes Cristiano Ronaldo would be a fool to leave Manchester United.

Fergie is annoyed at the noises coming out of Real Madrid and Barcelona regarding his star player.

The United boss said: “He knows he can achieve everything he wants here.

“There might be an attraction abroad with the climate but what you get at Old Trafford is a packed house of 76,000 people every week.

“You don’t get that with the Spanish giants, only when it’s a big game — we fill out every week.”

Fears grew about a deal being done with Barca this week when Ronaldo’s agent was snapped with the club’s director of football, Txiki Begiristain.

But Ferguson said: “I think that was just the agent trying to make himself look good.”

Barca and Real are ready to bid whatever it takes to get Ronaldo, 22, and could even bust the world-record £47million Real paid for Zinedine Zidane six years ago.

But United are offering Ronaldo a new five-year contract worth £26m to keep him at the club until 2012.

Guest · Posted: Sat Feb 10, 2007 2:35 am Post subject:

Carvalho: It's Drog v Ron

February 10, 2007

RICARDO CARVALHO reckons the title race will be decided by a shootout between Didier Drogba and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Manchester United flier Ronaldo and Chelsea hitman Drog are joint top of the Premiership scoring charts, with 15 apiece.

And Blues’ Portuguese defender Carvalho, pals with both of them, said: “The performances of Didi and Cristiano will decide the destiny of the title.

"My two friends are having unbelievable seasons and there is more to come from them both.

“I believe it is still possible for Chelsea to win the title.

“There are still a great many matches to play and there could be some bad results for United in the coming weeks.

“Drogba is a key player for us. Chelsea always need his goals and, in my view, he is a more motivated striker now than he’s ever been while he has been at this club.

“Is this state of mind he can be the person who will be the most decisive in our season.

“But I know Cristiano well and his objective is to be the top scorer in Premier League. If he can do that he will be the key to United’s success."