Ronaldo staying at United

[hj2k_x]

Manchester United have declared their intention to keep hold of Cristiano Ronaldo.

The future of the Portugal winger has been the subject of intense speculation over the past three weeks, with the 21-year-old twice claiming he would like to move to Spain.

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson initially suggested he would try to keep Ronaldo at Old Trafford and those comments have been reinforced by the Old Trafford outfit this morning.

'Manchester United has noticed the increasing media speculation over the future of Cristiano Ronaldo,' said a statement released by the Red Devils.

'The club can confirm there is no possibility of Cristiano being sold.

'Cristiano recently signed a new contract until 2010 and the club fully expects him to honour that contract.

'The club will not listen to any offers for Cristiano.

'Cristiano is one of the brightest young stars in world football, as demonstrated by his performances at the World Cup and Manchester United is not in the business of selling their best young players.'

Ronaldo, who is spending time on his home island of Madeira following the World Cup, was quoted in the Portuguese media today.

'There are possibilities for me to continue at Manchester United but there are other possibilities as well,' he said.

'Everything is open, if I have to leave Manchester United I don't want to leave on bad terms because it is a club that has contributed to my evolution as a human being and as a professional.

'It is an issue that has to be discussed in the next few days. For the time being I want to distance myself from football. The most important thing is to rest and go back to Madeira.

'I have no reason to leave the club, they have always supported me, they always gave me guarantees of being able to evolve as a player,' he added.

'There is still nothing concrete. During this week I believe the issue will be resolved.

'If it's a question of staying there it will be fine, if I leave it will also be fine. It is still a question that has to be decided, I have four days to resolve it.'

What are the chances of him staying? I mean in the same team as Rooney!?

[werner]

no chance....we even had ronaldo up on ebay last week.
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/07/05/ronaldo_transferred/
man u is a publicly listed company, with shareholders....they kinda listen to their fans for the moola. I may end up eating my words, but I cant see Ronaldo putting his feet on old trafford turf ever again.

[hj2k_x]

That is what i would go with as well.

[vrapt0r]

Its such a stupid thing to fight about!

I mean many players do the same thing as ronaldo did to rooney!

Its not like he broke rooneys foot again!

They should kiss and make up end of story!

[werner]

vrapt0r, I agree with you, but these british folks are passionate about their sport.
One of my first experiences in this country was after the 98 world cup, where beckham was sent off.
I was walking down the main road, spying out the shops, and HANGING FROM A NOOSE, outside a pub, was an effigy of beckham, that had been set alight.
That is how popular he was for "losing" england the world cup

Ronaldo doesnt stand a chance in hell.

[tibby.dude]

If I were him I would be scared to go back ... something is going to happen to him in the UK ... perhaps he should hire some bodyguards ;).

Also the team will turn their back on him no matter what the bosses tell them.

[dominic]

man U and ronaldo deserve each other

[Angelo]

He should go to a better league like La Liga which suits his style of play more and where he won't be a scapegoat for England's dismal performance.

[hj2k_x]

lol @ Spain being a better league

[Angelo]

lol @ Spain being a better league
UEFA Champions Leauge Final: Barcelona (Spain) 2 - Arsenal (England) 1
UEFA Cup Final: Sevilla (Spain) 4 Middlesborough (England) 0

[hj2k_x]

That is what you are basing it on? One season of European Football?

I know where i would rather play...

[Angelo]

That is what you are basing it on? One season of European Football?

I know where i would rather play...
Of course results don't matter do they? :)
What do you base your view on?

[hj2k_x]

Of course results don't matter do they? :)
What do you base your view on?
The quality of the teams playing, the games that are played within the league itself. I'd take the worst two teams in England playing each other over the same from La Liga any day. There are some really weak teams in Spain , man

[Angelo]

The quality of the teams playing, the games that are played within the league itself. I'd take the worst two teams in England playing each other over the same from La Liga any day. There are some really weak teams in Spain , man
But what better way to compare the quality of the two leagues than look at head-to-head results of games between clubs from the two teams? :)

[hj2k_x]

Well that is one way of looking at it. But i have been watching premiership games since it started and i have caught my fair share of La Liga and Serie A and even Bundesliga games in that time as well, and i would take the Premiership games anyday.

[Angelo]

I think yours is just patriotism and understandable. It's a well known fact Worldwide that La Liga is better.

[hj2k_x]

lol, if u say so.

[Angelo]

Don't you wonder why great players like Rivaldo, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Maradona, Zidane, etc go for La Liga but never the English league?

[dominic]

i think you two should co-anchor a soccer programme on the tube

[Angelo]

i think you two should co-anchor a soccer programme on the tube
Man that would be the best job ever! :)

[icyrus]

man u is a publicly listed company, with shareholders....they kinda listen to their fans for the moola. I may end up eating my words, but I cant see Ronaldo putting his feet on old trafford turf ever again.

No, they are not a PLC anymore.

[hj2k_x]

Man that would be the best job ever! :)
hehe, Count me in :D

[icyrus]

UEFA Champions Leauge Final: Barcelona (Spain) 2 - Arsenal (England) 1
UEFA Cup Final: Sevilla (Spain) 4 Middlesborough (England) 0

Comparisons like this are pointless. Think about it, you could say because liverpool won it 2 seasons ago and they where 5th the the EPL that shows how weak spanish teams are.

Arsenal were 4th in the EPL last season and Barcelona where 1st, does that mean the EPL is stronger because a 4th place team can make it to the final?

Then you have players who were failures in England that go to Spain and look good.

There is no easy way to compare the 2 leagues technically. Excitement wise, the EPL is far ahead.

[hj2k_x]

Don't you wonder why great players like Rivaldo, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Maradona, Zidane, etc go for La Liga but never the English league?
Perhaps Ronadlo is more suited to La Liga, just as these examples. The English league is pretty tough. Not everyone can handle it ;)

[icyrus]

On topic: I don't think Ronaldo has anything to worry about. The same thing happened with Beckham and the club just payed for extra protection for him.

After a while the knuckle-dragging English supporters will lose interest.

[Angelo]

Perhaps Ronadlo is more suited to La Liga, just as these examples. The English league is pretty tough. Not everyone can handle it ;)
Premeirship is more about strength and speed, La Liga about skill and technique, I prefer the latter. Each to his own. :)

[hj2k_x]

On topic: I don't think Ronaldo has anything to worry about. The same thing happened with Beckham and the club just payed for extra protection for him.

After a while the knuckle-dragging English supporters will lose interest.
what about rooney??

[Angelo]

Comparisons like this are pointless. Think about it, you could say because liverpool won it 2 seasons ago and they where 5th the the EPL that shows how weak spanish teams are.

Arsenal were 4th in the EPL last season and Barcelona where 1st, does that mean the EPL is stronger because a 4th place team can make it to the final?

Then you have players who were failures in England that go to Spain and look good.

There is no easy way to compare the 2 leagues technically. Excitement wise, the EPL is far ahead.
Valid points, but it's more accurate to compare based on head-to-head clashes between teams from the two countries, for example an English team might do well in the competition but having met none of the La Liga teams on the way.

[hj2k_x]

Premeirship is more about strength and speed, La Liga about skill and technique, I prefer the latter. Each to his own. :)
And suprisingly enough, i prefer the former :)

[werner]

No, they are not a PLC anymore.

I found a link with their share price
http://uk.finance.yahoo.com/q?s=MNU.L
I am sure my father in law still has some man u shares
Am I missing something? :-)

[icyrus]

Valid points, but it's more accurate to compare based on head-to-head clashes between teams from the two countries, for example an English team might do well in the competition but having met none of the La Liga teams on the way.

Did arsenal not beat real madrid, the icon of Spanish football?

[icyrus]

what about rooney??

I don't see it being a problem. Ronaldo didn't do anything that Rooney hasn't done himself and they're not children anymore. Eventually everyone grows up.

[hj2k_x]

No, they are not a PLC anymore.
Yes, they are.

http://wrightreports.ecnext.com/coms2/reportdesc_COMPANY_C826F0200

That is how the Glazers were able to buy United :(

[hj2k_x]

I don't see it being a problem. Ronaldo didn't do anything that Rooney hasn't done himself and they're not children anymore. Eventually everyone grows up.
You think so?? This was a pretty big deal though. I mean getting one of your teammates sent off in a WC quarter final- I am not sure Rooney has ever done anything like this...

[icyrus]

You think so?? This was a pretty big deal though. I mean getting one of your teammates sent off in a WC quarter final- I am not sure Rooney has ever done anything like this...

He didn't get him sent off. He complained to the ref about the foul. I'm sure the ref didn't decide to send Rooney off because Ronaldo said so.

[icyrus]

Yes, they are.

http://wrightreports.ecnext.com/coms2/reportdesc_COMPANY_C826F0200

That is how the Glazers were able to buy United :(

They were a PLC, but the last I heard was that the Glazers delisted them after the takeover.

[hj2k_x]

He didn't get him sent off. He complained to the ref about the foul. I'm sure the ref didn't decide to send Rooney off because Ronaldo said so.I am not.

[hj2k_x]

They were a PLC, but the last I heard was that the Glazers delisted them after the takeover.
I stand corrected. Heard it was in the pipeline, did not know he went through with it..:( :mad:

From wiki:
On 16 May 2005, Glazer took his shareholding in United to 75%, allowing him to end the club's PLC status and delist it from the London Stock Exchange, which he did on 22 June. On 14 June 2005, Glazer successfully increased his share in the club to 97.3%, sufficient enough for full control. On 28 June he increased his share to 98%, enough for a compulsory buyout of all remaining shareholders [6]. The final valuation of the club was $1.47 billion.

[Angelo]

Did arsenal not beat real madrid, the icon of Spanish football?
Yes, and English teams do beat the Spanish now and then but compare the results overall and you'll see Spain has the edge.

[Angelo]

You think so?? This was a pretty big deal though. I mean getting one of your teammates sent off in a WC quarter final- I am not sure Rooney has ever done anything like this...
I cant believe you still think Ronnie got Rooney sent off!! :eek:

[hj2k_x]

I cant believe you still think Ronnie got Rooney sent off!! :eek:
Damn, i hoped ur current discussion would keep u occupied so u wouldnt see my comment ;)

Yes , i do think so! :)

[hj2k_x]

Don't be surprised at the lack of activity at the top level of the transfer market; it’s just the calm before the storm.

It's been big business as normal for Chelsea, signing two big-name players in Michael Ballack and Andriy Shevchenko, but both Arsenal and Manchester United have been relatively quiet.

But that's to be expected. I suspect that Arsene Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson are working hard behind the scenes, setting up deals and finding out who is available. The World Cup was bound to delay matters - it always does.

It's also reasonable to assume that they are waiting on the results of Italy’s match-fixing trial. Suddenly, a player like Patrick Vieira could become available on the cheap – could he be the answer to United's midfield problem?

I think that when Sir Alex assesses his squad he'll conclude that midfield is the only department in which they are lacking. But he needs to hang on to Cristiano Ronaldo – and he will try everything in his power to do so.

Whether he regards the retention of Ruud van Nistelrooy in the same way is debatable. Sir Alex is already well stocked with strikers – there's Wayne Rooney, Louis Saha, the youngster Giuseppe Rossi is highly rated, and Alan Smith is coming back from injury. So too is Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. There will be a strong temptation to cash in on Ruud.

But you can be certain that Sir Alex does not want to lose Ronaldo. If he has to lose Ruud to keep Ronaldo then I think the Manchester United manager would accept that.

Don't pay much attention to claims that the Portugal winger will be hounded out of the Premiership after his behaviour at the World Cup. The stick that Ronaldo will receive will be no worse than what he has suffered in previous seasons. He may thrive on it, too. He was booed throughout the semi-final against France...and was arguably the best player on the park.

And don't for a second think that the Old Trafford fans will boo him. The most important thing in the world to Manchester United fans is Manchester United. They will back him just like they backed David Beckham after his 1998 World Cup dismissal.

Sol Campbell's departure from Arsenal came as a bolt from blue. But while Arsene is no doubt now looking for a replacement at centre-half, I'm interested in his plans for Tomas Rosicky. The Fabregas-Silva partnership won't be affected by his arrival, and although Rosicky could play on either flank, I just wonder if Arsene plans on using the Czech in the Dennis Bergkamp role.

Of Chelsea's closest pursuers, Liverpool have been the busiest so far this summer. Rafa Benitez seems intent on a wholesale restructuring of his squad but the signing that stands out for me is the capture of Craig Bellamy.

Craig is a very talented player but the criticism I have always made of the Welshman is that he just doesn't score enough goals. He responded last season with more than twenty for Blackburn and really impressed me. Can he do it again? At Blackburn, he had people around him who understood him and supported him. At Liverpool he will have to cope with extra pressure and expectation, and must prove that last season wasn't a fluke.

From football365 again