Barca join race for Ron

Barcelona last night dramatically joined the race to sign £40m-rated Cristiano Ronaldo. The Spanish club are scared their arch-rivals Real Madrid could have stolen a march in trying to lure the brilliant midfielder from Manchester United. The Nou Camp plan to sell off some of their fading stars, like Deco, Ronaldinho and former Chelsea striker Eidur Gudiohnsen to finance new deals. But Barca’s influential sport director Txiki Begiristain revealed his club’s serious interest in Ronaldo. He said on Spanish TV programme Gol a Gol at the weekend: “Cristiano Ronaldo is a player we think we can sign in the summer. Cristiano Ronaldo is a key player for any club, but I still think it will be complicated to persuade Manchester United to sell in the summer.”
Danny Fullbrook & Bill Thornton, Daily Star