Real Madrid are maintaining their pursuit of Cristiano Ronaldo despite the news the Manchester United winger will miss the start of the new season after undergoing surgery on his ankle.
The Spanish club's president Ramon Calderon said he was aware of Ronaldo's problem, and that if the 23-year-old wanted to leave Old Trafford then United would find it difficult to keep him.
Calderon said: "It depends on the player, on Ronaldo. Since I've known football it has been the case that the desires of the footballer are what decide matters.
"If Ronaldo wants to leave Manchester, he'll leave. If he wants to stay, he'll stay.
"I don't think you can keep anyone in a place where they don't want to be, not even in a family.
"But I insist that for a formal negotiation to start Manchester United will have to open their doors to us. Manchester have to want to talk."
On Ronaldo's ankle injury, Calderon added: "At the moment that is something which should only concern the player and United."
Ronaldo yesterday underwent surgery on his right ankle but it will be at least a month before Professor Niek van Dijk, the Dutch ankle specialist who operated on him, can assess when he will be ready to return to action.
Van Dijk is one of the world's foremost experts in ankle injuries, and is a former head of the Dutch Squash Federation's medical committee. He operated on the Portuguese winger at the Academic Medical Centre in Amsterdam.
United said in a statement afterwards: "Cristiano Ronaldo underwent surgery today to his right ankle and the initial indications are that the procedure was successful.
"Cristiano will begin his convalescence under the direction of club medical staff and an estimation of his return to full fitness will be possible following review by the specialist in one month."
United, meanwhile, are resigned to losing Sir Alex Ferguson's assistant Carlos Queiroz, who is to become head coach of the Portugal national side.
Swansea chairman Huw Jenkins has denied that his club's manager Roberto Martinez is in the running to succeed Queiroz, while Barnsley manager Simon Davey has played down reports linking him with the job.
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Comment 1 - 17 of 17
Ramon Calderon should better shut up or back off with his filthy sayings over our UNITED.no wonder Blatter is supporting him they re "birds of a feather".We are best MAN UNITED whether Ron goes or stays.
I couldn't agree more with the previous comment. Take the example of Wayne Rooney. It would have been professional suicide for him to remain at Everton, even though he supported them as a boy. Quite apart from the enormous financial advantages of playing for a club such as Manchester United, he has played against the best clubs and players in Europe, won the Champions League, along with two domestic league titles, and so on. And been guided in his career and footballing talents by a manager who is a legend in the game. Yet there are still those who criticise him of disloyalty to Everton. Unrealistic in the exreme.
Prior to my retirement as a Bank manager I had the accounts of three Premier footballers, one former 1st Division player (prior to Premier league) and one manager who now appears as a T V pundit. They all said the same. Football is a job to them and the team they play for or manage merely employers. It is no surprise that players move to other clubs if their income can be boosted, aftre all that's what they are playing for hoping for a long and lucrative career before retirement in their mid 30's. Fans on the orther hand support their clubs out of a sense of loyalty, usually inbred from childhood. I worked for Barclays Bank for nearly 40 years but if Natwest or Lloyds would have come along with a better offer I'd have gone. It's the same with footballers.
By the way the players I knew played for Manchester United and City. One moved from City to a lesser club, one stayed at United until retirement and the other was sold. The one who played priorc to Premier was injured out of the game. The club claimed the insurance money, which was equivalent to his estimated transfer fee plus allowance for wages, and gave it all to him along with a testimonial as a reward for his playing contribution and loyalty. All were or had been internationals.The manager managed clubs in the north west and abroad. can't tell you their names but, without exception they were all nice guys. I also had a football director who used to be a player in the 1970's. Nice chap but paranoid at being recognised.
It makes me smile when people talk about players being a "true red" or something like that. That is a common illusion that fans have. Players will go to what they consider is the best place for them, in football terms, financially (especially), socially, and so on. They will weigh up these options and decide. Just like other people do when considering job options.
Real are the biggest @#$% in the history of football. All they want is fame, i say give them RONALDO and in return ask them 500 million pounds and pull up the transfer of the century.....!!!!!!hahahahahahha
Make no mistake, Real was probably the best team last century, and they even started this century much in the same manner. After that, they took a huge fall mostly due to an absurd amount of poor decisions by the previous chairman (selling Makelele and buying the galacticos comes to mind). The past five years they have been slowly getting back up top though, and winning two consecutive Liga victories is no small feat. They are far from '@#$%' I can guarantee you.
Calderon is doing much better than his predecessor, thank god... but he has still left much to be desired at times, this whole Christiano Ronaldo affair being a prime example. It pains me to admit this, but every time Calderon appears in the media his behaviour seems totally immature and unfitting for someone his position.
If you want him, make a fair offer and be done with it. If it doesn't get accepted, get over it. Ronaldo is not God; there are better players out there with smaller egos. But sending these mixed signals is just plain childish and pathetic.
Real Madrid are finished. They cant even attract Ronaldo with huge wages...........won no Euro Cups since 2001. Is this a great club?
Of course, every other team and fan wants him to leave Man Utd because they are so dominant and want them weaker.
blackburn rovers all the way! ha ha ha ha
real are @#$%
HOHOHOHOHOH oh yeah
Real is the best everybody knows that, but they are soooo jealous...
Ronaldo really should go to that club, and itis more close to his home also, and
this is his heart's desire, and if he would stay at mu. then he wouldnt play good...but in REAL
let ronaldo go he is no true red, his commitment wont be at the club this coming season and true united fans only want 100% from there players. Get rid we will go on to win more trophies without him.
let ronaldo go he is no true red, his commitment wont be at the club this coming season and true united fans only want 100% from there players. Get rid we will go on to win more trophies without him.
let him goooooooooooooooooooooo
Real Madrid are the real football MAFIA !!
real are @#$% they only won the league because barca wern't good enough
Ronaldo should definetly leave. Real will be a great club for him.
When will Fergie pet leave?
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