Ronaldo to Real deal already done?

Cristiano Ronaldo's personal terms for a move to Real Madrid were agreed 'a long time ago', according to a senior Manchester United source. Ronaldo's agent Jorge Mendes is now understood to have finalised all the key details with executives from the Spanish club.

'They have been talking for at least two months,' the source told Observer Sport last night, 'and it was all agreed with Real Madrid weeks ago. All this chat from [Real president] Ramón Calderón that he does not want to upset Manchester United, and Cristiano Ronaldo cannot be bought because he belongs to another club, is absolute rubbish. Discussions have gone way beyond the point of no return. Sir Alex Ferguson knows this now so you can imagine how it has gone down.'

This explains United's decision to lodge a formal complaint with Fifa, claiming that Ronaldo has been tapped up; a threat that, although announced occasionally by clubs, is rarely acted upon. Last week a national newspaper also published a photograph of Ronaldo meeting a Real official in January in Rome, the club's fitness instructor, Walter Di Salvo, who left Old Trafford for the Bernabéu.

'The people around Ronaldo and Real Madrid have been talking seriously for a long time - about everything including the details of his contract if he moves,' added the source.

Ronaldo signed an improved contract that runs until 2012 in April of last year and Ferguson has taken the stance, in public at least, that the player will not be allowed to leave. But the source outlined that United believe Madrid's strategy to have been based on winning Ferguson round once it became clear that Ronaldo wanted to go. 'Madrid knew it would be tough, but thought for the right price the manager would sell. But he doesn't want to. No way.'

But would not a sizeable offer make the deal inevitable? 'No, I don't think he would sell even for £100 million,' the source claimed, although there is no definite confidence at United about what will happen. Ferguson has said that the Glazer family, which owns United, would not sell Ronaldo for any price. But whether they would turn down an astronomical fee, especially given the club's £600m debt, is unclear. One option that may be explored is for Ferguson to persuade Ronaldo to stay at least one more season, then allow him to leave.

SOURCE: Jamie Jackson, The Observer

Ronaldo prefers wearing white

Football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has insisted that he likes wearing a white football kit. Although he added that he meant the white national (Portugal) kit, many see this revelation as a clear hint of his desire to play for Real Madrid, who are popularly known for their white home kit.

"I really like playing in a white football kit, the white national kit that is," Ronaldo told Marca after Portugal's victory over the Czech Republic, wherein he was able to score a goal.

In other developments, FIFA has practically dismissed the complaint filed by Manchester United against Real for their allegedly illegal approach on Ronaldo.

A spokesman for the FIFA executive committee said: “United’s chances of getting Real punished are zero.

“I think everyone knows that these things go on in football but proving any wrongdoing is next to impossible.

“Real are very powerful and I don’t think they’ll be too worried about United’s claims.”

Will we see Ronaldo in the home white kit next season?

Real Madrid to test United with £60m bid for Cristiano Ronaldo

Manchester United took the extraordinary step yesterday of reporting Real Madrid to Fifa, world football’s governing body, over their public pursuit of Cristiano Ronaldo. Relations between two of the world’s biggest clubs seem certain to deteriorate further in the coming weeks. Real are preparing a world-record offer for the 23-year-old Portugal forward once his participation in the European Championship finals is over.

Sources in Madrid indicated last night that Real will offer United a fee in the region of £60 million for Ronaldo after Portugal are eliminated from the tournament, or, if they reach the final, after June 29. Ramón Calderón, the Real president, is said to be delighted by the developments of the past three weeks, with Ronaldo voicing his long-suspected desire to move to the Spanish champions. Real hope that the player will force United’s hand by requesting a transfer when his involvement in the tournament is over.

There is a growing realisation at Old Trafford that United may have to start planning for life without their outstanding player in the long term, given his incessant and brazen flirting with Real, but the Barclays Premier League club maintain that he will not be sold this summer, a stance that was illustrated yesterday when they carried out their threat to report the Spanish club to Fifa. David Gill, the chief executive, wrote the letter in which he spelt out his deep dissatisfaction at the manner in which Ronaldo has been unsettled by repeated public comments from Calderón and Bernd Schuster, the Real coach.

A statement on the United website read: “On May 27, Manchester United made clear its intention to report Real Madrid to Fifa if it continued to involve itself in the future of Cristiano Ronaldo. Unfortunately, Real Madrid has not kept its counsel and the club feels it has no alternative but to make a comment to the world governing body, which it has done. The precise content and nature will remain confidential.”

It is a remarkable step for United to take, but it is also one that Sir Alex Ferguson, the manager, had suggested would be futile. Fifa’s regulations on the matter are vague and United appear to have no hard evidence of the “illegal approach” that they suspect has been made to Ronaldo via Jorge Mendes, his agent.

It is also a complaint that leaves United open to accusations of hypocrisy. In August 2006, Bayern Munich threatened to report United over a similarly public pursuit of Owen Hargreaves, the England midfield player. Although the German club’s threat was never carried out, United could hardly be said to have dropped their interest when they were asked to, with Ferguson continuing to stalk the player until he finally moved to Old Trafford the next summer. Previously, PSV Eindhoven had accused United and Ferguson of arrogance over the way they conducted bids to sign Jaap Stam, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Arjen Robben.

A good deal of United’s frustration is with Ronaldo and Mendes, but, rather than risk antagonising the player, the club’s hierarchy have directed their anger at Real. Rio Ferdinand, the United defender, summed up the sense of despair at Old Trafford, from boardroom to dressing-room, when he questioned why Ronaldo would want to leave the European champions. “I think you would have to ask the question that everyone really wants to ask Ronnie,” Ferdinand told Sky Sports News.

“I was talking to David Beckham the other day and he was saying how it was crazy that he had left United on a winning note and it took him so long to win something over there [at Real], so sometimes the grass isn’t greener. But Ronnie is his own man, the lads at the club love playing with him and long may that continue.

“The manager is first-class in those situations and he’s had massive decisions to make in the past and so whatever the manager goes with, the players will be standing 100 per cent behind him.”

SOURCE: Oliver Kay, The Times (UK)

Ronaldo Agrees Terms With Real - Marca

Manchester United ace Cristiano Ronaldo has agreed personal terms with Real Madrid, according to Marca.

Reports emanating from Spain claim that the Portuguese star, who is currently in Switzerland on international duty, has agreed to join the Spanish champions on a five-year deal.

It is believed that Ramón Calderón is ready to fulfill Ronaldo's wishes by rewarding him with €9.5 million per season.

The Manchester United player confirmed to Terra yesterday that he would like to play for Real Madrid as long as the Merengues were ready to offer him and Manchester United what has been reported.

With Ronaldo and Real allegedly in the same page, the Spanish outfit must now begin negotiations with The Red Devils, which won't easy as Alex Ferguson wants to keep the number 7 in his ranks.

It is reported that Real Madrid are willing to put together an offer of €100 million for the Portuguese, which, if completed, will be the most expensive transfer fee in football history.

SOURCE: Luis Mira, GOAL.com
image created by ronaldorealmadrid.blogspot.com