Premier League - Ronaldo unhurt in Ferrari crash

Eurosport - Fri, 09 Jan 09:13:00 2009

Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo walked away unscathed despite writing off his £200,000 Ferrari 599 GTP Fiorano in a spectacular car crash near Manchester airport.

FOOTBALL 2008-2009 Premier League Manchester United Cristiano Ronaldo car wreck - 0

His luxury sports car's front end was smashed to pieces and it lost a wheel as he collided with a roadside barrier while driving to training, the morning after a disappointing defeat for his team.

Ronaldo's team-mate Edwin van der Sar, United's goakeeper, was following in his Bentley at the time of the crash but was not involved in the collision, said police.

Skid marks were clearly visible leading up to the crash scene, and a photographer who arrived shortly afterwards described the 23-year-old Portugal winger's bright-red car as a "terrible mess."

But Greater Manchester Police said no one had been injured.

"Officers attended and discovered a Ferrari had collided with a barrier," a statement said. "No one is believed to have been injured."

Witness Jody Lomax was driving behind Ronaldo when the collision occurred.

"The Ferrari went straight into the wall, his front left-hand wheel came off and then Ronaldo got out of the car," he said, according to the BBC.

"I was shocked. Anyway he was all right, he was walking - he was a bit shaken... Obviously I was stunned at seeing a Ferrari go in the wall and seeing Ronaldo."

A spokeswoman for United said Ronaldo, the World Player of the Year, had not required treatment for shock or any other injuries and would be fit to play in Sunday's Premier League showdown with Chelsea.

"Cristiano is fine," the spokeswoman said. "It was on his way to training. He did not receive any treatment. He has trained this morning with the team and is OK."

Police officer Nigel Snell said that, given the damage to the car, it was "fortunate" that Ronaldo was not injured.

"We are trying to establish exactly what happened and I would appeal to anyone that may have witnessed the collision to contact police," he said.

Ronaldo played as a second-half substitute in United's 1-0 defeat away to Derby County in the first leg of the League Cup semi-final on Wednesday.

Barring any delayed reaction to the crash, he will be back in the starting line-up for Sunday's match at Old Trafford as United seek to overcome one of their major rivals in the battle to retain the Premier League trophy.

AFP

Comment 402 - 421 of 481

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  1. Yet again another miss from Ronaldo this season. This time it is not on the football pitch

    From Half A Brain, on Thu 8 Jan 8:48PM

  2. Most of the sad people commenting can't even spell, go get lessons, bet Cristiano's having a good laugh at you low lives

    From DJ, on Thu 8 Jan 8:47PM

  3. Honestly, people, 425 comments on this?!? Hoops, I just made it 426, didn't I?

    From jesterhazy, on Thu 8 Jan 8:46PM

  4. ATTEN ELNINO. OF COURSED MESSI IS THE WORLD'S BEST PLAYER, I JUST WANTED TO KNOW IF ANYBODY WAS PAYING ATTENTION..ALL THE BEST.

    From esther.melvyn, on Thu 8 Jan 8:34PM

  5. ronaldo is a absolute c..t and should just try to be normal and maybe even go to the swimming pool and teach people to dive the stupid pratt

    From mikey.breslin, on Thu 8 Jan 8:33PM

  6. so he was being followed by his mate in his supercar - racing? - no one else involved? crashed into an inanimate stationary object - at best he is a @#$% driver, at worst is guilty of dangerous / wreckless driving - hope he gets the same treatment as everyone else by the law.. twa.t

    From Martin, on Thu 8 Jan 8:30PM

  7. @esther.melvyn....THE WORLD BEST PALYER ....MY ARSE....MESSI IS FAR BETTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    From elnino, on Thu 8 Jan 8:30PM

  8. im a man u fan and i think that ronaldo is good but he is an eejit and should learn how 2 drive a car he crashed 2 know it is stupid

    From mikey.breslin, on Thu 8 Jan 8:30PM

  9. Did he wink at the policeman after the Ferrari was sent of the road?

    From Nicholas, on Thu 8 Jan 8:28PM

  10. RICK S..GET A FCUKG LIFE, YOU'RE JUST JEALOUS YOU HAVEN'T GOT THE FAME AND FORTUNE OF THE WORLD'S BEST PLAYER.

    From esther.melvyn, on Thu 8 Jan 8:18PM

  11. I BET A LOT OF DRIVERS GOING PAST THIS PILE OF SCRAP METAL WERE CHUCKLING TO THEMSELVES, THINKING "MY OLD BANGER IS IN BETTER CONDITION THAN THAT". OF COURSE THEY WOULDN'T HAVE KNOWN IT BELONGED TO AN OVERPAID FLASH @#$%, WHO WILL BE ABLE TO AFFORD MANY MORE EXPENSIVE CARS OF THIS TYPE. HE WASN'T DRUNK ACCORDING TO POLICE BREATH TESTS..WAS HE SPEEDING?..OR DID HE THINK MORE FOR ONE MOMENT THAT HE WAS BEING PURSUED BY PAPARAZZI.( VISIONS OF DIANE COME TO MIND ). THANK GOD NO INNOCENT PERSON OR FAMILY WERE INJURED OR EVEN KILLED. I HOPE THE POLICE DO NOT TREAT RONALDO AS A SPECIAL CASE.

    From esther.melvyn, on Thu 8 Jan 8:16PM

  12. This is what happens when you try to put your make-up on whilst you are driving!

    From Holty, on Thu 8 Jan 8:16PM

  13. die you c.u.nt

    From Wulk Bogan, on Thu 8 Jan 8:12PM

  14. Rick S post 403 = a total gaylord who cant play the game and should go back to the big head club where he can join his boyfriend: CRISTIANO RONALDO
    Liverpool Rule and will win the title

    From jrobbo.lfc, on Thu 8 Jan 8:08PM

  15. I wonder if he waved in the face of the police when they didnt give the card to barrier and a send off.

    This is the first time C Ronaldo(The winker) cried like a baby to avoid getting a penalty.

    That was funny, I do hope the barrier got the yellow.

    Anyone believe Ferguson will come out of the woodworks and bash the barrier for taking a shot at CRYBABY7 and yell at the police for not giving the barrier a "red" card on the spot. I wonder if he got outta the car and was looking to take his pk.

    haha, I love it. . .I mean i'd hate to see such talent lose a career to something stupid, but honestly, he needs a reality check. His head is bigger than the whole European continent.

    From elnino, on Thu 8 Jan 7:57PM

  16. I sincerely hope the police view this in the proper fashion.This popous idiot could have wiped out a young family or other innocent people.just as the idiot that was Naseem Hamed did.He must be put off the road for the safety of the public.He shpould be charged with dangerous driving.But the dinasour that is M.U.F.C. will get him off scott free.

    From MICHAEL M, on Thu 8 Jan 7:51PM

  17. ronnie is a friggin overpaid muppet! wrecks a ferari and leaves training in a bentley!
    just shows utter disregard for pple who live a normal life!

    From akinajike, on Thu 8 Jan 7:50PM

  18. THAT SHOULD READ RICK S GAY FUKCER

    From sarah, on Thu 8 Jan 7:48PM

  19. FUNKY @#$% YOU

    From sarah, on Thu 8 Jan 7:46PM

  20. Man screw all of thse stupid people that wish Ronaldo was hurt in this crash. You idiots need to step back and realize that Ronaldo's just like any other human with his set of gifts and faults. I'm sure he's not really as bad a guy as everyone makes him out to be. Success can be a tough thing to handle in the eyes of the public and maybe this situation is just the pinnacle of his stress from which he'll learn some humility and perspective (but let's pray that it doesn't affect his performance on the pitch lol)...

    Ronaldo I'm glad you're alright and hope you learn not to drive like such a moron because next time you may not be as lucky. God bless you and good luck this season.

    From Alex, on Thu 8 Jan 7:45PM
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