Manchester United have taken issue with Sepp Blatter after the FIFA president claimed Cristiano Ronaldo should be allowed to leave Old Trafford if he wants.
The FIFA president's remarks in a Sky News interview, in which he criticised a trend towards "modern slavery" in football, surprised the Champions League winners and the game at large.
United are adamant that Ronaldo will not be leaving even though the Portugal winger continues to send out mixed messages about his future.
Real Madrid have made no secret of their admiration for Ronaldo, who currently recovering from ankle surgery after playing in Euro 2008.
The last thing United probably need is Blatter entering the debate.
A club spokesperson said: "All our players - like at other clubs - enter into their contracts after an open and free negotiation.
"Most of whom do after taking advice from a FIFA-registered agent.
"Many do so on a number of occasions and enjoy long and successful stays at Old Trafford."
UEFA have warned that players are becoming ever more powerful as a consequence of the Bosman ruling - and played down Blatter's suggestions they are slaves to clubs.
Communications director William Gaillard, who also serves as special advisor to UEFA president Michel Platini, gave a different point of view and claimed salaries are "spiralling out of control".
"It would be useful to remind people that slaves in all of the slavery systems never earned a wage," Gaillard told Sky Sports News.
The Bosman ruling came into effect in 1995, allowing players free transfers at the end of contracts, and those coming to the conclusion of their deals have become prey for other clubs.
"It seems that both clubs and players are trying to negotiate an exit before the player is free," said Gaillard.
"It is a consequence of the Bosman ruling - there is nothing we can do about that.
"It is obvious that today players have a lot more power than they did 20 years ago, undoubtedly, and agents have a lot more power than they did 20 years ago.
"It is true that salaries are spiralling out of control. Many clubs have pointed that out."
When Blatter was asked if he felt sympathy for Ronaldo's current position, he said: "Absolutely, absolutely.
"Definitely as a footballer and the FIFA president, I'm very in sympathy with the player Ronaldo."
He added: "I think in football there is too much modern slavery, transferring players or buying players here and there, and putting them somewhere. And we are trying now to intervene in such cases."
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Comment 3 - 22 of 22
you seem to forget that he IS under contract and he should honour it. why sign on the dotted line if you want to go else were. you say the newpapers are behind him but none of that matters. blatter is a fool for making such remarks. him and platinni are trying to kill off the power and influence of the EPL wether it's through changing the champions league now that english teams are finaly dominating (like the spanish and italian s did) or making comments and recommendations about or against the EPL. ronaldo, palying games abroad, threatening to stop our chances of acquiring the world cup in england ....etc
Montecason, DON'T YOU FORGET THAT FIFA AND UEFA ARE THE TWO BIGGEST ORGANISATIONS IN WORLD FOOTBALL AND WITHOUT THEM WE WOULD HAVE NO WORLD CUP OR EURO CUP SO BUCK UP
no wonder fifa didnt do anything about Man Utds complaint against Real
Blatter is a prat . Slaves never go paid u stupid man.
hello mr blatter if footballers are slaves i want to be one how can you moan about getting 150.000 a week. well worth being a slave give me a call
Hi Mr. Blatter,
I am very suprised by your comment. In this modern and democracy world slavery is out
of the context. I have not heard of any more in this world. When a footballer like
Ronaldo being paid so much in millions for a year I think he is a rich man now and not
a slave in football. Do you Mr Blatter knows that he is resting now and even being paid
for.So in fact he is enjoying himself now with his family and Mr Blatter please do not
worry for him.
"MAN U.", SHOULD have Pulled their ACT TOGETHER...! Now,it seems to have Blown FULLY in their Faces!The Football's World Press is Firmily behind RONALDO, over this "Contract" Issue..and now Inequivocably, DEFENDED by F.I.F.A...the Highest Football Authority!- U.E.F.A.'s Platinni, has reitrerated his SUPPORT, for RONALDO too,
as he IS ENTITLED, to Rescind,Terminate,Cancel or seek a "Null and Void"RULING in the Tribunals..!
Real Madrid, HAS Approached, Legally, Man.U, over RONALDO.-The Glaziers, have been Flying TO and FRO, for meetings in MADRID, OVER INDEMNITY/COMPENSATION, for RONALDO!
In such Light, YES, it's Treating RONALDO's EMPLOYEE's RIGHTS..as If HE WERE A "SLAVE"
and,I feel sure, All and Any, of US out here, would in Decency and Honesty, Concurr with such Pronouncements..LABOUR LAWS, in Britain, ARE Tilted towards ONE PARTY ONLY..The Shark's Way..!
I think, this is one of the DARKEST Pages, in Man.U's, Glorious History..and Sir Alex NEEDS to be TOLD, "No Club is Bigger, than F.I.F.A,"...OR we RUN the Risk of being KICKED OUT, of World Football.- London
shame on blatter. Ronaldo should definitely leave MANU but not because of slavery but because he is no longer willing to stay. Let him go because should blatter know,slaves were also bought for a price and that's what RM is doing. WHY DONT HE BLAME RM? Has he not a hidden agenda?
ronaldo hasent even requested a transfer yet, the only one doing any talking is calderon and now fifa?? ronaldo has said he wants to go to real madrid and it is obvious that he wants to but there is something stopping him, maybe it is a pang of guilt, loyalty even?? or fear of fergie wahtever it is unless he submits an official transfer request then what is the problem, how is he a slave to his contract, a contract he signed a year ago and hasent asked to get out of .... yet!
"ashleighwragg"...The Contract, didnn't BUY RONALDO..! it merely "Signed" his Services,
over a specified Period of time!-Like any, OTHER Employee's WORK Contract, it can be Rescinded, Terminated,Cancelled BY EITHER PARTY, and INDEMNIFIED ..WHICH is WHAT Real wish to do.."PAY"(Break the Bank) over a "FOOTBALL GENIUS".-Cheers, mate!-London
It is so tragically SAD..to witness such a DARK Page,in the Glorious Man.U's RECORD..!!
RONALDO..once Sir Alex,"GOD",OVER WHOM,he would QUIT his Job FOR..! RONALDO,"The GENIUS PLAYER", of Berndt Schuster...OVER WHOM, Real is willing to Break the Bank FOR!
RONALDO,Hailed in the same "Status as George Best, by Sir Alex, as"The Golden Player" by Scolari,the Brasilian World Champion,RONALDO, "The New Maradona"in the lips and comments of the "Special One"...and NOW RONALDO, DEFENDED by the Highest Football Authority F.I.F.A in Pronouncements by Blatter, Supported by U.E.F.A. Platinni...
is TRULY an EXCEPTIONALY "RARE" Football Player..!- The BEST in the world,as WE ALL
SEE IT!!-No ANTICS! Please!- GOOD LUCK Cristiano Ronaldo!and Thanks!-London
well done blatter.they have to let the boy go.he is not made in england slave.i want the fifa to sanction the united.
Blatter is probably on the RM payroll thus his input.He has ben under investigation for financial irregularities at FIFA for a number of years but changes rules to prevent access to records by investigating bodies. Premier clubs cannot pay him because accountancy requirements would expose the action thus he attacks anything that is successful & English to satisfy his paymasters abroad.
What is this stupid blatter back ground? He has no clue what he talking about.He should go and clean shoes in the Sunday league that's more likely suit to him.
i dont believe Ronaldo is a baby that dosent know what he wants, for Blatter to make such a comment he has showed that he is not capable of being a football governing body president...... Blatter go sleep and think of your life instead of making yeye comments... mike lagos
So, Mr Blatter, what should we do about this thing called a CONTRACT?
FIFA & UEFA is criminal & parasite organisations!!!
Blatter & Platini is @#$% mans.
Blatter is an idiot who is blatantly against England and English clubs. But, like Max Mosley, he won't resign and he won't be sacked
Blatter should be sacked for these comments. I am getting tired of hearing him say stupid things to no consequence. Ronaldo signed a contract therefore the club has a right to refuse any bids for that player.
Madrid should also be punished. That club needs to be fined in the millions of dollars and have their Champions League place revoked. I am tired of hearing this kind of @#$% in the news and this kind of punishment would force teams to think before they open their mouth.
Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini have become a joke.
Real Madrid have clearly been 'tapping' Ronaldo up so to speak by using the media as a way to say "we want you, but only if you come out and tell utd you want to leave" and then continued to ramble on even after Utd lodged the complaint and then have the nerve to say they have a great relationship with Utd.
I'm sorry but all Madrid have been doing is making a fool out of themselves for the whole world to see. Instead of trying to rob other teams of their great players they should instead focus on recruiting players with potential and nurture them like clubs like Utd do.
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