Premier League - Ronaldo next for ambitious City

Eurosport - Wed, 03 Sep 09:30:00 2008

Dr Sulaiman Al-Fahim, the owner-elect of Manchester City, will make a record breaking bid for Cristiano Ronaldo in January.

FOOTBALL 2008-2009 Premier League Cristiano Ronaldo - 0

Al-Fahim and the Abu Dhabi United Group are plotting to follow up the sensational capture of Robinho on transfer deadline day with the signing of Manchester United's prize asset once the transfer window re-opens next year.

"Ronaldo has said he wants to play for the biggest club in the world, so we will see in January if he is serious," Al-Fahim told Arabian Business magazine.

"Real Madrid were estimating his value at $160 million (£89m) but for a player like that, to actually get him, will cost a lot more: I would think $240m (£134.3m).

"But why not? We are going to be the biggest club in the world, bigger than both Real Madrid and Manchester United."

During the interview, conducted moments after ADUG and City signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the change of ownership, Al-Fahim also outlined his ambition to bring Liverpool's Fernando Torres and Arsenal's Cesc Fabregas to Eastlands.

He added: "We're not just going to spend money on anyone, but if we can get the biggest players in the world, and of course if the manager wants them, then we will get them."

Al-Fahim expects his group's takeover of City to have the same impact as Roman Abramovich's buy-out of Chelsea five years ago.

Chelsea have won the Premier League title twice, lifted the FA Cup once and reached the final of the UEFA Champions League since Russian Abramovich burst on to the scene at Stamford Bridge in 2003.

City have not won a trophy since picking up the League Cup in 1976, but Al-Fahim believes the funds available to manager Mark Hughes should ensure the wait for silverware will soon come to an end.

Asked how ADUG's takeover of City would compare with Abramovich's Chelsea buy-out, Al-Fahim told PA: "I think it will be the same. We would like to see Manchester City fighting for trophies in every tournament.

"We don't just want Manchester City to be challenging for trophies in England, but also in the Champions League. We want them to be in for every trophy available."

City, who finished ninth in the Premier League last season, will take a potential glimpse into the future when they face Chelsea in their next league clash at Eastlands a week on Sunday.

And they will do so with Robinho in their ranks after the Brazilian's move to Eastlands in a British-record deal.

The 24-year-old had been expected to move to Chelsea but the Blues refused to meet the 40 million-euro asking price.

Al-Fahim will try to attend that game, and he is keen to travel to England to hold talks with the club and the Premier League in the coming days so the details of the transaction can be clarified and ironed out.

In a statement released yesterday, ADUG said the aim would be for City to compete in the Champions League in the 2009-10 campaign - a feat that would require a top-four finish this season.

However, although the club have started the season in promising form and currently sit third in the table after three games, Al-Fahim appeared to acknowledge the real hunt for trophies would begin next season.

"A place in the Champions League is quite a jump from last season, but we are ready to sit down with the manager, find out the players he would like, and bring the right players into the club," Al-Fahim added.

"This season we would like to be a lot better than last season, and we are eager for trophies next season."

Al-Fahim is also keen to explore possible new revenue streams for the club, ensuring City will not have to solely rely on the funds made available by ADUG.

"Our message to the fans would be we promise we are here to sustain the club and make Manchester City competitive for trophies at the highest level," said Al-Fahim.

"We would also like to bring in extra revenues by introducing new marketing ideas.

"Looking at the club, they have a lot of fans, they are loyal fans, and there is the opportunity to grow there. They also have a lot of history. It was all very attractive to us.

"I think the one thing that has been missing was the right person to provide the right investment."

Al-Fahim said that he plans to meet Hughes and talk over future transfer targets.

"I will come to the UK in a few days to meet the manager Mark [Hughes]," he said.

"We will sit down with him and see what it is he needs now."

Confirming that the bid to sign Bulgarian striker Dimitar Berbatov from Tottenham ahead of city rivals United was a serious one, he added: "That was genuine. It was very close but we couldn't get him, we were unlucky."

Of the takeover he said: "It might take a month, it depends on the final approval of the authorities."

Sporting Life / Eurosport

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  1. I think the City take over can only be a good thing for English football , it will make things ever tighter at the top of the table , which can only things more exciting for all teams involved !

    From petersheridan45, on Fri 5 Sep 12:46PM

  2. The changing face of football.

    Unfortunately, there will probably be more English players at Man. City. The trend for Premier Leagure clubs to hire "the best" footballers from all over the world has of course made the Premier League one of the best, if not currently the best league in the world. The only loser is the English national team.

    I am waiting for a chinese investment company to buy up Accrington and catapult them into the Champions League.

    From ray_snare, on Thu 4 Sep 10:42PM

  3. This whole thing is becoming a farce. We have a mega rich buyer who knows absolutely nothing about football and to all intensive purposes will be using City as as advertising how good Abu Dhabi is for a holiday. They reel off names of some of the best players in the world not even thinking what position they play. Yes of course some of the top stars will be drawn to City simply for the huge wages which will no doubt be on offer once having signed lucrative contracts for four or five years what incentative is there to play to thier potential or ability, the answer NONE. I must congratulate Berbatov for chosing Man Utd over the mega bucks offer from city this man is a true footballer, one who wants to play for a team of his dreams not to play for mega bucks at a mediocre club. This whole charade reminds me of the wonderful carry on films and now we have a new release "Carry on City" Julian Clarey for manager.

    Oh Yes I am a Man Utd supporter for over 50 years. How many new "FANS" ???? will city inherit because people love to be on a winning side. Like Maggie Thatcher "Im not for changing" United will continue to dominate Machester's football. In time the royal family will get fed up with thier new toy and move on.

    From Rev. Graham J.Smith, on Thu 4 Sep 1:22PM

  4. before Sir alex came, ManU is nothing. but he and his players made ManU one of biggest club now. 20 years to build ManU, how can i believe ManCity will topped ManU in 2 years??

    From muhamad, on Thu 4 Sep 6:08AM

  5. LMFAO god guys are you all jealous or something i mean liverpool supporters get battered everytime united play them and they even had to score an own goal cause they fearedthat they may of had to face united in the final and city dont need to be better than united cause if united are apparently the best then that means we have a two game winning streak against the best and we will carry that on with no doubt and you can keep your mardass ronaldo cause all he does is cry when he loses the ball and fergie blames the ref everytime he gets beat. All i can say is GLORY SEEKERS, And remember wen united lost nearly every game and fergie blamed it on the colour of the kit? what an idiot. thats how desperate he is for excuses. city are the future and united are the past. if you cant accept it then dont but still support your team even if you dont win out.thats what us loyal blueboys do.CITY TILL I DIE

    From chris_clark_1989, on Thu 4 Sep 3:56AM

  6. better buy all world class strikers and relegate to conference league...

    From Aniki T, on Thu 4 Sep 3:40AM

  7. i have been man.u for 32 years and always will be, i hope man.c do get good players/titles/cups because if there is one thing you can say about man.c (club) and man.c (fans) they never give up always do and give their best.I say good luck to all at man.c you've earned it.

    From , on Thu 4 Sep 3:15AM

  8. Premeir League 08/09 standing

    1.Liverpool
    2.Manchester City
    3.Arsenal
    4.Chelsea
    ..........8.Manchester United
    Top score:Fernando Torres. Liverpool top fans

    From choksang94, on Thu 4 Sep 2:36AM

  9. Man U is nothing without CR7. Look how shaby and poor they have been. Just wait till SAF quits you red devils will be cutting your wrists. Staying up crying in your pints till the wee hours watching best of Man U dvds trying to re-live the glory days.

    From Tiger, on Thu 4 Sep 12:39AM

  10. what idiots, they are too ambitious to actually become a proper soccer team

    From ryanho0001, on Wed 3 Sep 11:37PM

  11. I think it's obvious that city won't achieve anything .- here comes a sentence that describes it best :
    You can buy a clock but you can't buy time
    Got my picture ?

    From The Northerner, on Wed 3 Sep 7:36PM

  12. Sry i speak not god english and sorry i will not bad comments writing i will not a new chelsea thats not football that is a money induistrie and not others .

    From ManU Fan, on Wed 3 Sep 6:23PM

  13. man-united will always rule the premier league.
    ronaldo will never want to go to man city after man-u

    From addison777@..., on Wed 3 Sep 6:20PM

  14. I wonder what map the good Dr. is reading. Since when has Manchester City been in Spain? Ronaldo wants to play in SPAIN.

    He offered Berbatov more money to go to City but Berbatov chose UTD instead. If city bid for Ronaldo they will be left with egg on their faces. No Champions League, less of a pull for top stars (yes I know Robinho is there but if you ask a player like that to sign for Manchester, what are they going to expect?)

    I can't wait to see Hughsie's face when Robinho asks when he will get to meet Rooney because he can't wait to play alonside him... He will probably have to wait to see the "Great players" that he is playing alongside next week (against Chelsea too. We'll see how he handles a hostile home crowd).

    From Rob C, on Wed 3 Sep 4:23PM

  15. You silly boy dfkemp21! Its:
    Premier league 2008/09:

    1.Liverpool
    2.Manchester City
    3.Arsenal
    4.Stoke
    5.Hull

    From LFCool!, on Wed 3 Sep 4:23PM

  16. Premier league 2008/09:

    1.Manchester United
    2.Liverpool
    3.Manchester City
    4.Chelsea
    5.Arsenal

    From David, on Wed 3 Sep 4:17PM

  17. Amen to that jp_bedell. Ever notice that they are so quick to @#$% yet when we pass comments(truths), about them, they take forever to reply, or never reply atall! Prob coz they are intellectually inferior and it will take sum time! AAAWWWHHH!!!!

    From LFCool!, on Wed 3 Sep 3:32PM

  18. manufan obviously not english, that or some kind of educationally challenged muppet. typical rag then!

    From jp_bedell, on Wed 3 Sep 3:25PM

  19. hey shithead, yes you ManU Fan-you can tell you're man utd scum-you can't spell or make sence for that matter zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzz snore zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz snore some more zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz and so on......etc.

    From LFCool!, on Wed 3 Sep 1:42PM

  20. As a Manchester United supporter, who lives in Manchester, i can't wait to see what Manchester City can achieve. Sure there is rivalry between the clubs but at the end of the day, it is only a sport and a 90 or so minute game. Nothing more, nothing less.

    If it wasn't for the success of clubs like Manchester United and previously, Liverpool, the standard wouldn't have been raised in the english game to what has become THE best league in the world.

    Good Luck Manchester City, i sincerely hope that they do well.

    From sean.sibley@..., on Wed 3 Sep 1:41PM
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