Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon has seemingly conceded defeat in his pursuit of Cristiano Ronaldo after admitting 'the most likely scenario' is that the winger will stay with Manchester United.
Calderon will meet United chief executive David Gill on Monday, where it is expected the English Premier League side will issue an official 'hands off' warning to Real.
The Real president told the BBC earlier today the two clubs had not met to discuss a possible transfer of the Portugal star, and claimed he never wanted to cause problems between United and their player.
Later, Calderon revealed the Spanish champions' frenzied pursuit of Ronaldo may now be at an impasse.
'He must love Manchester,' Calderon told Marca. 'Once Manchester decide they want to sell and they tell us this, then we will say that we're talking about a transfer.
'But today that's not happening and therefore this is a situation that may end up as it is now, as nothing, and Cristiano Ronaldo will continue at Manchester next year.
'At the moment, that's the most likely scenario. They (United) don't want to sell so we can't do anything.'
True to form, Calderon admitted he held out some hope of bringing Ronaldo to the Spanish capital, adding that there may be time to convince United to change their mind before the August 31 transfer deadline.
'Theoretically there's still time (for things to change),' he continued.
'There are two months left until the end of August if Manchester get in touch with Real Madrid and make us an offer.
'But still we don't know if it would be possible to buy him even if they did want to sell.'
Reports in Spain suggested United were set to test Real's resolve by offering Ronaldo for around £80million - nearly £12million more than the £67million Real were reportedly prepared to pay.
Calderon admitted that for a player of Ronaldo's calibre such sums were not out of the question, but insisted the figure was only speculation as the two clubs had never discussed terms.
'This is speculation which may be reasonable given what has happened in the major transfers in football history,' he said.
'But we never got round to talking about amounts of money because Manchester never gave us the opportunity to do so.
'He (Ronaldo) said that he would like, that it is his dream, that he would be extremely excited to come to play for Real Madrid, but it is a desire of the player that cannot be realised without Manchester's consent.'
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Sunday, July 6, 2008
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Sir Alex boosts Fletch hopes
Darren Fletcher has been assured he is very much part of Sir Alex Ferguson's plans for next season.
Fletcher was restricted to 11 starts last term, due to the strong competition for places in United’s midfield and a knee injury which sidelined him for most of April.
But the Scot’s superb two-goal FA Cup display against Arsenal in February demonstrated his ability to rise to the occasion, a trait Ferguson values highly.
The Reds boss told Sky Sports: “He’s been very unlucky, but he keeps coming back. He’s an important player to us.
“He always plays well in big games – that’s the great value he brings to the club. He’s a big-game player and we’ve plenty of big games, so he’ll play his part.”
Fletcher revealed in May that his frustration at not playing every week motivates him to succeed when he does get a chance.
“You have to take disappointment and use it as a fuel,” the 24-year-old said. “If you’re not selected then you have to think to yourself ‘I’m going to make an impact if I get on’. You can’t let your head get down at all.
“I’ve picked up injuries at bad times when I’ve got into the team and started to play well. We have a great squad here and I have to be patient.”
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Fletcher was restricted to 11 starts last term, due to the strong competition for places in United’s midfield and a knee injury which sidelined him for most of April.
But the Scot’s superb two-goal FA Cup display against Arsenal in February demonstrated his ability to rise to the occasion, a trait Ferguson values highly.
The Reds boss told Sky Sports: “He’s been very unlucky, but he keeps coming back. He’s an important player to us.
“He always plays well in big games – that’s the great value he brings to the club. He’s a big-game player and we’ve plenty of big games, so he’ll play his part.”
Fletcher revealed in May that his frustration at not playing every week motivates him to succeed when he does get a chance.
“You have to take disappointment and use it as a fuel,” the 24-year-old said. “If you’re not selected then you have to think to yourself ‘I’m going to make an impact if I get on’. You can’t let your head get down at all.
“I’ve picked up injuries at bad times when I’ve got into the team and started to play well. We have a great squad here and I have to be patient.”
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Ronaldo: Decision still pending
The decision on whether Cristiano Ronaldo will have surgery on his right ankle is still to be made, contrary to Thursday morning media reports.
Twelve hours after issuing a statement, a United spokesman reiterated: "Procedures are in place to seek specialist advice, in order to finalise the treatment plan as soon as possible."
The original club statement, as released on Wednesday evening, stated: "Manchester United medical staff met with the medical team from the Portuguese FA and Cristiano Ronaldo in Lisbon today regarding the ongoing treatment of his injured right ankle.
"As a result, further specialist advice is being sought and an announcement will be made on any action in due course." Read more...
Twelve hours after issuing a statement, a United spokesman reiterated: "Procedures are in place to seek specialist advice, in order to finalise the treatment plan as soon as possible."
The original club statement, as released on Wednesday evening, stated: "Manchester United medical staff met with the medical team from the Portuguese FA and Cristiano Ronaldo in Lisbon today regarding the ongoing treatment of his injured right ankle.
"As a result, further specialist advice is being sought and an announcement will be made on any action in due course." Read more...
Reds fight to keep Carlos
Manchester United have offered Carlos Queiroz a new salary of £1.5million to turn down the Portugal job and stay on as Sir Alex Ferguson's No.2. Queiroz has been formally approached by the Portuguese Football Federation to replace Luiz Felipe Scolari - now in charge of Chelsea - as chief coach of the national team on a salary of £1.1m. United's bullish confidence that Queiroz would turn down the Portugal opportunity to remain as Fergie's assistant is said to have wavered over the last 24 hours, prompting the hefty pay-rise offer. Fergie is understood to have implored Queiroz to stay but, having not stood in his assistant's way when the Real Madrid job came up five years ago, the United boss knows he may ultimately be unsuccessful once again.
Staff reporter, Daily Mirror Read more...
Staff reporter, Daily Mirror Read more...
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Boss eyes improvement
United's clutch of burgeoning young talents has Sir Alex Ferguson in confident mood ahead of the new campaign.
Although the likes of Nani and Anderson shone last term alongside the ever-improving Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo, the United manager fully expects further improvement from them in the coming months and years.
"I think we’ve got a good team and there’s some development still to come.," he said. "There are some young players who for a period last season did very well, and for a period showed their youthfulness by being inconsistent. Those young players will come on a bundle now.
"That triumph of winning the league and the European Cup can only help us. Players like Anderson, Nani, Rooney and Ronaldo will emerge from that without doubt, and be really top players for us. We’re pleased at their progress."
The betterment of those youngsters will allow Sir Alex to sustain his side's success, although he insists old guards such as Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes still bring plenty to the table, despite being 34 and 33 respectively.
"Giggs still gives us a bit of real quality," said the manager. "He won’t play every game, but if he can give me 25 games of real quality - which he can do because he’s looked after himself and doesn’t carry any weight - then that can still keep us at the forefront in terms of players who can decide matches.
"Anderson and Nani will improve and that’s the reason we bought them; to replace Giggs and Scholes in the long term. Scholes without question will give us another couple of years at the top level. Age-wise we’re good, those are my only two concerns."
Sir Alex knows his side will face stern challenges at home and abroad to retain the Double this season, and he expects the usual suspects of Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool to pose the domestic questions.
"I don’t see anyone outside emerging so strongly that they’re going to interrupt that four," he said. "You expect Liverpool to buy players, and Arsenal have shown their hand and bought Nasri and the young boy Ramsey. They (Chelsea) will obviously be up there too, and I expect the same ones."
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Although the likes of Nani and Anderson shone last term alongside the ever-improving Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo, the United manager fully expects further improvement from them in the coming months and years.
"I think we’ve got a good team and there’s some development still to come.," he said. "There are some young players who for a period last season did very well, and for a period showed their youthfulness by being inconsistent. Those young players will come on a bundle now.
"That triumph of winning the league and the European Cup can only help us. Players like Anderson, Nani, Rooney and Ronaldo will emerge from that without doubt, and be really top players for us. We’re pleased at their progress."
The betterment of those youngsters will allow Sir Alex to sustain his side's success, although he insists old guards such as Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes still bring plenty to the table, despite being 34 and 33 respectively.
"Giggs still gives us a bit of real quality," said the manager. "He won’t play every game, but if he can give me 25 games of real quality - which he can do because he’s looked after himself and doesn’t carry any weight - then that can still keep us at the forefront in terms of players who can decide matches.
"Anderson and Nani will improve and that’s the reason we bought them; to replace Giggs and Scholes in the long term. Scholes without question will give us another couple of years at the top level. Age-wise we’re good, those are my only two concerns."
Sir Alex knows his side will face stern challenges at home and abroad to retain the Double this season, and he expects the usual suspects of Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool to pose the domestic questions.
"I don’t see anyone outside emerging so strongly that they’re going to interrupt that four," he said. "You expect Liverpool to buy players, and Arsenal have shown their hand and bought Nasri and the young boy Ramsey. They (Chelsea) will obviously be up there too, and I expect the same ones."
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