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Real Madrid president reiterates desire to sign Ronaldo

Wed 30 Jul, 12:53 PM


Portugal's Ronaldo stands before their Euro 2008 quarter-final

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MADRID (Reuters) - Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon has reiterated his desire to sign Cristiano Ronaldo but has said that the club are merely interested spectators in a dispute between the player and Manchester United.

"Of course we want Cristiano given the quality he has," Calderon said in an interview with Spanish sports daily AS on Wednesday.

"But there is a contractual problem which the player and Manchester have to resolve and not us...The thing is the player has said publicly that his dream is to play for Madrid.

"I heard those words with pride and satisfaction, but Cristiano's departure does not depend only on him.

"It has not been us who have built up or knocked down this signing. Madrid are just spectators in this comedy."

Calderon said the Spanish champions would have no problem in meeting the cost of signing Ronaldo. "We are in a very healthy financial position and we can carry out an operation of this nature without it affecting us.

"We don't want to appear like the wealthy who want to spend money just to show off, but we would do this deal on the basis that it could be profitable..."

Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson has stated categorically that Ronaldo will not be leaving the Premier League club.

Calderon said that a failure to sign the Portugal international would not disrupt the club's planning for next season and added that they were already close to signing Dutch midfielder Rafael van der Vaart from SV Hamburg.

"He is a player that (Bernd) Schuster and the coaching staff like a lot and the deal is close," he said. "We are waiting to reach a definitive agreement with Hamburg, but it shouldn't be difficult."

Hamburg said last week that they had rejected an offer of 7 million euros (5.5 million pounds) for the player who is under contract to 2010.

Calderon denied that the club were also keen to sign Spain striker David Villa from Valencia.

"Forget it. There is no place for him even though he was a great player at Euro 2008 and his goals helped us become champions. We haven't got any space for another striker."

(Reporting by Simon Baskett, editing by Alan Baldwin)

 

Comment 1 - 12 of 12

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  1. we hould just leavehim to decided

    From luke.milsom, on Thu 31 Jul 12:51PM

  2. OMG are u guys all tarded? Ronaldo will leave when SA retires, its so obvious that CR was mearly stating that he wanted to leave in the future and was not going to spend his whole career at Man U, like Ryan Giggs or SCholes seeing that Ryan beat Bobbys record and got his 10 EPL title. CR wants to follow in the steps on Beckham, he already says he wants to play in MLS one day, but first he must go to Madrid to play for his dream, then retire rich in LA. Who is the most famous footballer playing in the World? BECKHAM even though he isnt anything like the best he still is the most well known in so many countries.

    From zehst, on Thu 31 Jul 10:14AM

  3. Ramon Calderon had no intention of buying Ronaldo this summer. He has created a story and left the Spanish press and their imaginations to run wild. This means that Real Madrid have been in the headlines all summer for half-truths and inuendos. This publisity you can not buy. This is the final back down ready for the season to start. Caldreon will be back with the same story next summer, who will it be ? what league will the player come from ??

    From P L, on Thu 31 Jul 9:22AM

  4. this is so convenient of calderon to start a transfer saga,publicly courting a player and claiming deal is possible then back and say he is just a spectator! anyway,payback is a b***** Alex fergie did the same thing with Benzema and now Berbatov

    From Dubleen, on Wed 30 Jul 5:52PM

  5. Does anyone really think that Calderon created this problem?? Don't you guys realize that was CR who said "I'll clear my future after the Eurocup", and later said "My dream is to play for Real Madrid"? Calderon has one of the biggest mouth in soccer world and many supporters from Real don't like him. Also they are quite sick of this soup opera and they prefer to spend that money in Villa, Van der Vaart and other players less expensive. Man U has a problem with CR, pretty similar to the problem Barcelona had with Ronaldinho. Last year Ronaldinho=90M€, this year less than third part. This year CR=80M€, next year=?

    From Jaime, on Wed 30 Jul 5:48PM

  6. Fergie, call Ronaldo and sort this thing out once and for all.enof of this saga.
    Or is United telling the whole world they can't do without Ronaldo?

    From mabou, on Wed 30 Jul 3:16PM

  7. united will be in a big mess afterall if they don't allowed Ronaldo leave.

    From mabou, on Wed 30 Jul 3:11PM

  8. I like how he hasn't any space for another striker. Did he even watch Ronaldo last season. He was our main forward with Rooney on the left and Tevex supporting him. Calderon is a @#$%.

    From stevie_dayuk, on Wed 30 Jul 2:28PM

  9. Madrid are just spectators? That's why Calderon's in the paper at least once a week with his drivel.

    From zz, on Wed 30 Jul 2:02PM

  10. anybody got a gag?

    From justme, on Wed 30 Jul 1:43PM

  11. does this guy ever shut up?

    From d.eccles1@..., on Wed 30 Jul 1:38PM

  12. Ramon Calderon is smart
    He created the problem, then....
    He left all the mess to Ronaldo and Man U to deal with.

    From Sam, on Wed 30 Jul 1:11PM
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