Man U rattled by Real Madrid's interest in Cristiano Ronaldo.

I don't believe there is a club in football that hasn't used under hand tactics at one time or another to sign a player they want. But the fact is that Man Ure have a wonderful tradition of this! As a school boy Ryan Giggs was actually wearing the sky blue of Man City. City thought they had a great prospect until Taggets men poached him! So I am taking great delight in sitting back and watching Man Ure stamp their feet and whinge about the unfair tactics being employed buy the Big Bad Bullying Real Madrid! What goes around, comes around!

Totally agree with you mate, it's a case of put your feet up, sip your coffee and enjoy the drama!

Good news from SkySports!

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_3699145,00.html


Fifa won't take Real action
But Spanish champions warned about 'possible inducement'

Fifa will take no formal action against Real Madrid following Manchester United's recent complaint regarding Cristiano Ronaldo.

United reported Real to Fifa last week due to their unhappiness with the Spanish champions' interest in signing Ronaldo.

Both Real president Ramon Calderon and coach Bernd Schuster have acknowledged their admiration for the Portuguese winger in recent weeks.

In taking the case to Fifa a week ago, United felt they had 'no alternative but to make a formal complaint to the world governing body'.

Calderon claimed United had 'no evidence' of any wrongdoing and Fifa have released a statement after reviewing the complaint.

Reminder

The statement read: "We can confirm that we received last week a formal complaint from Manchester United related to the player Cristiano Ronaldo and the club Real Madrid. From the documentation received, no breach of contract appears to have occurred yet.

"Therefore, in accordance with the applicable practice, no kind of formal procedure has been opened by Fifa regarding this matter.

"The Spanish Football Federation has been informed of the complaint lodged by the English club and been asked to remind its member club Real Madrid about the potential legal consequences of a breach of contract without just cause during the protected period and of a possible inducement to such a breach of contract, as established by the Fifa Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players."

Meanwhile, Real striker Ruud van Nistelrooy believes his former United team-mate is now a 'complete' player.

Great person

Van Nistelrooy, who is focusing on Holland's bid to win Euro 2008, said of Real's bid to sign Ronaldo: "I'm not really thinking of it as you can imagine in this moment of time.

"I leave it up to the clubs and to the player involved in that sense. I will wait and see what happens.

"I think everybody knows what kind of player he is and how he developed himself as one of the best players in the world in this moment.

"At his age, he's complete. He's a great player and a great person."

If you liked that one, you'll love this one (if only it were true! ), from The Express:

http://www.express.co.uk/football/view/48485/Fergie-will-quit-if-United-sell-off-Ronaldo-behind-his-back

FERGIE WILL QUIT IF UNITED SELL OFF RONALDO BEHIND HIS BACK

SIR Alex Ferguson has confided to close friends that he would walk out on Manchester United if Cristiano Ronaldo is sold without his consent.

The Daily Express broke the story on Saturday that Real Madrid plan to outflank Ferguson and chief executive David Gill by lodging a £75million bid directly to the owners, the Glazer family, in America.

But a well-informed source said: “Sir Alex has put his foot down.

“He is so adamant that if the club dared to cash in on Ronaldo against his wishes, it wouldn’t surprise me if he walked out.”

Ronaldo has said ‘yes’ to a £300,000-a-week offer from Real to his agent – a five-year contract worth a staggering £75m in personal terms, putting him top of football’s global pay stakes.

Ferguson knows it is pointless United offering Ronaldo a pay rise from the current £125,000-a-week deal he signed only last summer as they could not match Real’s package.

The United boss has said he will retire within the next three years, but he would bring forward his decision and could walk away immediately, or stay for one more season until United find his successor, should they sell Ronaldo against his wishes.

Ferguson will only sanction Real’s bid if he believes it is in the best interests of the team and, as yet, he still believes it is possible to bring Ronaldo back and exorcise the spectre of Real and their huge offer from the player’s mind.

That will test the managerial talents of even the vastly experienced Ferguson as Ronaldo apparently has “psyched” himself for the switch and does not want to return to Old Trafford.

Ronaldo accepts, though, that he might have to go back and face the famous ‘hairdryer’ treatment.

And with United intimating, so far, that they would turn down any official written transfer request and that they are not interested in the money or swap deals, a bid lodged direct to the Glazers ups the ante.

The only way Ferguson could justify such a sale is if he felt he could buy two or three world-class performers.

Cant see Ronaldo going anywhere, as he is having a opp. on his leg.

It could put him out of the game till Sept or Oct.

Cant see any club spending that kind of money on a player who can not play for the 1st 2 months of the new season.

FIFA chief Blatter wades into Ronaldo row with 'slavery' swipe at United

FIFA president Sepp Blatter believes Cristiano Ronaldo should be allowed to leave Manchester United for Real Madrid if he so desires, criticising a trend towards "modern slavery" in football.

The Portugal winger is one of the hottest properties in the sport after a superb season at Old Trafford last term and speculation about a move to the Spanish side has dominated the summer's transfer gossip.

There has been an ongoing war of whispers emanating from both clubs for several weeks and when asked about the protracted wrangle over the 23-year-old's future, Blatter insisted players should be allowed to leave with impunity when they want to move clubs.

'The important thing is, we should also protect the player," he told Sky News.

"If the player wants to play somewhere else, then a solution should be found because if he stays in a club where he does not feel comfortable to play then it's not good for the player and for the club.

'I'm always in favour of protecting the player and if the player, he wants to leave, let him leave."

Blatter believes the issue raises interesting questions about the way transfers and contracts are dealt with in the game.


'I think in football there's too much modern slavery in transferring players or buying players here and there, and putting them somewhere,' he continued.

'We are trying now to intervene in such cases. The reaction to the Bosman law is to make long-lasting contacts in order to keep the players and then if he wants to leave, then there is only one solution, he has to pay his contract."

Blatter went on to dismiss the Premier League's much-criticised '39th step' proposals, insisting plans to play competitive matches overseas - either in the league or domestic cups - was doomed to fail.

He said: "The 39th game as presented will never happen. To my knowledge what they (the Premier League) want to do is perhaps to play some of the League Cup matches somewhere outside of England. That's the last information I got.

'They should just forget about that.'
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While FIFA is at it defending Ronaldo, They might want to sanction MON too for his gutter antics.

Ronaldo backs Blatter's view of 'modern slavery'

Blatter believes that Ronaldo should be allowed to leave and not be made to remain at Old Trafford against his will.

"I completely agree with the statements of the president, he is right," Ronaldo told Portuguese broadcaster TVI on Thursday.

Ronaldo reiterated his previously stated desire to join the Spanish champion, but no transfer request has been submitted and he has almost four years left on his United contract.

"You know what I said, what I want and what I would like," he said after leaving a physiotherapy session. "Now I have to wait and see."

The 23-year-old Portuguese insisted he is still with the club he steered to triumphs in the Premier League and Champions League in May by scoring 42 goals.

"It is not true that I have agreement with Real Madrid," he said.

He said he did not know where he will begin the season, but he expects to be sidelined for 10 or 12 weeks while he recovers from Monday's surgery on his right ankle.

He said he would spend a further two weeks on crutches and it would be two months before he could kick a ball.

When Blatter was asked in a Sky News interview Thursday if he felt sympathy for Ronaldo's current position, he said: "Absolutely, absolutely."

He then urged United to sell Ronaldo if he asks to leave.

"We should also protect the player and if the player wants to play somewhere else, then a solution should be found," Blatter said. "Because if he stays in a club where he does not feel comfortable to play then it's not good for the player and for the club ... I'm always in favor to protect the player and if the player, he wants to leave, let him leave."

Blatter suggested that United was unfairly retaining Ronaldo, adding that "in football there is too much modern slavery."

Those comments sparked widespread criticism, particularly from the Red Devils.

"All our players - like at other clubs - enter into their contracts after an open and free negotiation," United said. "Most of whom do after taking advice from a FIFA-registered agent.

"Many do so on a number of occasions and enjoy long and successful stays at Old Trafford."

UEFA, European football's governing body, believes that players - not clubs - are becoming more powerful.

"It would be useful to remind people that slaves in all of the slavery systems never earned a wage," said William Gaillard, UEFA president Michel Platini's special adviser. "It seems that both clubs and players are trying to negotiate an exit before the player is free."
________________________ ________________________ ________________________ _________________

He should be allowed to leave if he wants to go. It is not about the money he earns, more about his needs to leave and being unable to. There is something called slave wages; If you getting paid working where you do not wish to work and you're not happy working there but you cant leave, Slave wages. whether you're earning $1 or $220,000 is irrelevant.

ideally the mancs sell Rolando and then alex fungus-on quits  would love to see that happen just before the start of the new season then even better they get relegated for ever those fcuking c**ts!!!!!!!

As much as i want Ronaldo to go and leave those bas**rds without a team, sh*t i mean 7, i always get confused, Blatter would love to see an English club fall apart.

If i were a neutral i would be right behind Scum to not sell and let him rot. Blatter is a w**ker, the whole FIFA and UEFA board are. But I am a pasisonate Liverpool supporter so sell him you bas**rds!

Slavery?

Come off it.  I'll take your money and your girlfriend this week if you want Cristiano to help ease your burden.

this bloke is a joke!!  slavery!!!!  i'd be anyones slave for 120k a week.  try working a 50 hour week on minimum wage to pay the bills, and would love to tell your ignorant pr**k of a boss to stick his job, but you cant cos you need the bobs, then you'd feel like a slave.

thats whats wrong with these over hyped players now, they stick a tub of product in their hair every morning and think they're gods gift and can do whatever they want.

personally, i hope he stays with the scum, cos i reckon they could do more damage with 70 million, or whatever stupid amount madrid are offering,  in their kitty than they can do with this spoilt brat.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=554856&sec=england&cc=3436

Ronaldo should see out his contract - Pele

Pele today joined in the Cristiano Ronaldo transfer saga debate by insisting the Portugal international should see out his contract with Manchester United.

And the Brazil legend also suggested that Sepp Blatter's view that there is 'modern slavery' in the game was wide of the mark.

Earlier this week the FIFA president was asked about Ronaldo's current situation and he replied that players who are tied to long-term contracts were treated like slaves. Ronaldo later said he agreed with Blatter's comments.

Pele, speaking ahead of a charity football match at Stoke's Britannia Stadium in aid of the Gordon Banks Foundation, said: 'You are a slave if you work without a contract or you don't get paid.

'If you have a contract then in any job you have to finish the contract. I think that when he finishes his contract, then he should be free to go wherever he wants to go.'

Well firstly, it has been a while since I've posted on the forum, so hello to everyone. I found this, seems like Pele has your points of view  .
I agree fully on what is said by Pele here, I really do mind too much on whether Ronaldo leaves or doesn't, the only problem I have is that he is so good, I don't want Liverpool to play againest him, despite he seems to go missing a lot againest real defences. But I think that even though Manchester are usually stubborn when it comes to giving a player away, Ronaldo has a contract to Manchester and needs to stay there till the contract expires.

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_3816677,00.html

Cannavaro offers his opinion now, bloody hell is there anyone who hasn't said something!!

Real Madrid defender Fabio Cannavaro believes Cristiano Ronaldo 'must respect' his Manchester United contract.

Last week, Fifa president Sepp Blatter voiced his controversial comments on 'modern slavery' in football.

Speaking of United winger Ronaldo's future, amid public interest from Real, Blatter said that no player should be held against his will.

Cannavaro, though, feels players should honour their deals - with Ronaldo's current contract due to expire in 2012.

"Slavery is a big word," the Italian centre-back told La Gazzetta dello Sport. "Someone who signs a contract must respect it."

On Sunday, it was announced that Ronaldo is facing at least three months on the sidelines following ankle surgery.

The 23-year-old's future at Old Trafford still remains uncertain, with the Portugal international yet to confirm where he intends to play his football next season.
Fair play to Cannavaro for coming out and telling him to stay put, while everyone including the tea lady at Madrid is telling him to join, Cannavaro has gone against them all to say what he truly thinks.
I personally couldn't give a sh*t either way what happens to him, if he stays then Utds star player will be unhappy, and if they sell him then they lose there only player who can hit 30+ goals.
Bad Times for the mancs!!

_______________________________________________________________________________

While FIFA is at it defending Ronaldo, They might want to sanction MON too for his gutter antics.

No mate, they will never do that as the Barry situation means that one English team will be dissapointed at the expense of 1 team's satisfaction.  UEFA and FIFA are not about to change their tactics to make life as difficult as physically possible for English teams.  In Utd's case they could only aggreviate a Premiership team and so they did it without hesitation.  As much as I want Ronaldo to leave and scums to lose any thing that gives them the cutting edge, I'm also very pissed with Blatter and his absolute sh*t theory.  If you can't honour a 5 year contract then don't sign it to increase your wages.  By signing let say a 4 year contract then a club can only realistically keep you for 2 years as the last years you will have the opportunity to buy back your contract.   Some player needs a good lesson as they are quick to sign new contracts for an increment in wages, but a sceptical on honouring as their wage potential increase.  However, if they dip in form or get injury prone then there is hardly much the club can do reduce their wage slips. 

Anyway in Utd's case from the bottom of my heart I hope the club all the worst.

No mate, they will never do that as the Barry situation means that one English team will be dissapointed at the expense of 1 team's satisfaction.  UEFA and FIFA are not about to change their tactics to make life as difficult as physically possible for English teams.  In Utd's case they could only aggreviate a Premiership team and so they did it without hesitation.  As much as I want Ronaldo to leave and scums to lose any thing that gives them the cutting edge, I'm also very pissed with Blatter and his absolute sh*t theory.  If you can't honour a 5 year contract then don't sign it to increase your wages.  By signing let say a 4 year contract then a club can only realistically keep you for 2 years as the last years you will have the opportunity to buy back your contract.   Some player needs a good lesson as they are quick to sign new contracts for an increment in wages, but a sceptical on honouring as their wage potential increase.  However, if they dip in form or get injury prone then there is hardly much the club can do reduce their wage slips. 

Anyway in Utd's case from the bottom of my heart I hope the club all the worst.

I see your point king Kenny. In any case MON responded to Sepp Blatter's comments;
________________________ ________________________ ________________________ ________________________ ________________________ ____

http://www.astonvilla.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=508126

The question on everybodies lips since he first got the job was, 'could Sepp Blatter be anymore of a comedian?'

A month on month he has proved us right. Only very rarely has a sentance come out of this chap's mouth that made sense, or seemed in anyway geared to help the game. The rest has been unadulterated wibble, although I'm sure some of the lads loved his comments about women's football!

The latest wibble from the Fifa president (hmmmm president, we should get him together with Dubya and they can form a double act) concern his warped belief that transfer negotiations are akin to 'modern slavery' and he was talking specifically about the Christiano Ronaldo situation - but it's not hard to see how it passes to our own situation with Gareth Barry.

Blatter obviously misunderstands not only the ethical and moral, but legal meaning of the word 'contract'. Bet he'd be peeved if Fifa decided to tear his up though without honouring his many millions in 'golden handshake' conditions.

Martin O'Neill has obviously rubbished this latest wibble and in time honoured fashion, made his point in far fewer words than me.

'I think it was pretty poor fare really because if the quotes attributed to him were that Ronaldo should be allowed to leave if he wants to, well it's quite incredible really.

'So a contract's not worth anything? Well, we kind of know that anyway in a sort of cynical manner.

'But I've never seen too many players coming in with serious injuries and facing a long lay-off and saying: 'I know, I think that because I won't be playing any football now for you for the foreseeable future, you should really tear my contract up and not pay me until I get fit again'.

'So it is an amazing comment coming from Mr Blatter, really amazing because, despite what he says, contracts are there, they are drawn up in the first place so that you hope that people would abide with them and, yes it has got serious connotations.

'I must admit it's a pretty bold statement and one that wouldn't have gone down too well certainly at club level when you are trying to hold onto your players.'

And therein lies the point, IF players wish to have the freedom of normal employment rules where contracts aren't time honoured and you need just abide by 30 days notice, or whatever you agree with the employer then they need to forgo the millions of 'contract compensation' when a club willingly sells, or their signing on fees.

Not sure many players would agree with Blatter if he suggested that though. Then again, not even he'd be that stupid would he.

This has come up on the BBC website today (in their gossip column)

Manchester United may finally be ready to talk about selling Portuguese striker Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid, with owners the Glazer family deciding he can go (1309 BST, Marca). BBC Radio 5 Live spoke to Real president Ramon Calderon who denied the claim.

Lookin good lads

Ofcourse it will rattle them because he scored most there goals and created most the goals that were'nt scored by him. I cant see why they would spend the money on berbatov though when they have Rooney and Tevez. Ronaldo leaves and United are fu**ed

Just worked out that goals by Ronaldo earned United 18 points last season, and assists even more - and so without him they would have come fourth

Im sure he got them more than 18 points. He got them aproximately 80 i'd say.

I didn't include Cup games and Champions League

I saw an article over the weekend in the Mirror of a MANU fan slating Ronaldo and holding a banner showing his anger and desire to see the back of him.  Whatever the outcome of this bizare saga is at least the United fans have seen sense for once!

As good a player as he is -- i don't think the United fans will ever welcome him back with open arms following his comments about Real and United - should be quite funny

Reports now that Real dont want him. Oh boy Cristiano, you fu**ed up here son.

Yeah the players at Real have come out and said they don't want him there as he cant perform under pressure and he is only good against the minor teams.