Premier League - United accept Ronaldo bid

Eurosport - Thu, 11 Jun 19:19:00 2009

Manchester United have accepted a world record £80 million bid from Real Madrid for Cristiano Ronaldo.

2008-2009 Manchester United Cristiano Ronaldo - 0

After warding off the Spanish club's interest in the Portuguese World Player of the Year this time last year, United said in a statement on Thursday that talks could begin over a possible transfer to the nine-times European champions.

"Manchester United have received a world-record, unconditional offer of 80 million pounds for Cristiano Ronaldo from Real Madrid," the club said.

"At Cristiano's request - who has again expressed his desire to leave - and after discussion with the player's representatives, United have agreed to give Real Madrid permission to talk to the player.

"Matters are expected to be concluded by June 30."

Real Madrid confirmed they had made an offer for Ronaldo.

"The club expects to reach an agreement with the player in coming days," Real said in a statement.

Should Real complete the signing of the 24-year-old it would seal a remarkable double after the Spanish giants snapped up Brazilian playmaker Kaka from Milan this week for a fee reported to be around £58m.

Kaka was the first player to be signed since Florentino Perez returned to the presidency this month and Real Madrid appear intent on continuing their spending spree despite the disapproval of European governing body UEFA.

"It is very puzzling at a time when football faces some of its worst ever financial challenges," UEFA president Michel Platini said.

"These transfers are a serious challenge to the idea of fair play and the concept of financial balance in our competitions."

United have always rejected the advances of Real for their most prized asset, even threatening to report them to FIFA last year over their pursuit of the player.

However, they now seemed resigned to losing Ronaldo, who has always said it would be his dream to play for Real, albeit for a staggering sum of money.

Ronaldo joined United from Sporting Lisbon in 2003 as an 18-year-old in the wake of David Beckham's move to Real Madrid and quickly established himself as arguably the most high-profile player in the Premier League.

His goals have helped United win three consecutive Premier League titles as well as the Champions League last year when he scored in the final against Chelsea.

In the 2007-08 season he scored 42 goals which topped the previous club record for a midfielder held by George Best. Last season he managed 26 goals, taking his tally for United to 118 in 292 appearances.

In January he beat Barcelona's Lionel Messi and Liverpool striker Fernando Torres to win FIFA's World Player of the Year award, the first player from an English club to win it.

United must now concentrate on replacing Ronaldo. Moves for one or more of Bayern Munich winger Franck Ribery, Wigan's Antonio Valencia and Lyon forward Karim Benzema would go some way to filling the void.

Real's cash could allow Ferguson to keep Carlos Tevez, who had appeared close to leaving after United refused to meet the £32m price tag set by his economic rights holders, although the two parties remain apart on the Argentine's wage demands.

Reuters

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  1. i still cannot beleive he joined real HALA MADRID.i­ think it must be the news of the century after such a­ long transfer coming

    From brandonmalta, on Thu 6 Aug 1:48PM

  2. Fans calling Ronaldo names are just upset that he is­ leaving, i won't read muc into it. Ade Fergi said­ he wouldn't seel Real a virus then i guess he­ thought Ronaldo was a virus because he sold him. ­ Ronald played far too many game with i want to stay­ just at the Champions League he intervied himself­ calling it stupid questions i want to stay i'm­ happy here, maybe we are all thinking this is­ Ronaldo's doing what suppose he didn't expect­ to go this season what suppose he was told we are­ selling you and Man U are not about to look the mug so­ used his own quote to say Ronaldo asked to go. Man U­ have over the years proved time and again no player is­ bigger than them and have sold big names while others­ have left and yet we still keep going building new­ teams, drafting in new stars of our own making, yes we­ sometimes buy big names but not too often Man U are­ about building a talent and taking them to the next­ level, Beckham, Cantona, Ronaldo, we have a few ready­ to be attented too, KiKo, Tosic, Nani can finally get a­ little show time, he has the speed and the dribbling­ and has scored a few screamers. No doubt we will miss­ Ronlado as we missed other players but the team needed­ someone who was not going to unsettle everyone, Fergi­ never like player who where about stardom and spotlight­ all to themselves he liked TEAM WORK and has over the­ year worked to hard for the TEAM to understand each­ other all the players not just a few.

    From janice m, on Sat 13 Jun 9:11AM

  3. THAT WAS A RIGHT CHOICE FROM FERGIE, BUT IF HE DOESNT­ GET A REPLACEMENT THEN THAT WAS A VERY BAD CHOICE!

    From Gerrrad, on Sat 13 Jun 9:01AM

  4. It's his loss with or without him man utd will­ still be winning. He may get the team he wants but he­ won't get the trophies he had.

    From DillonM, on Fri 12 Jun 6:59PM

  5. 80 million for a diver madrid must be mad nobodys worth­ that sort of money once he starts his antics the­ spanish will see him for what he really is.A CHEAT.

    From patrick s, on Fri 12 Jun 2:11PM

  6. Blatent LOL at all United fans who want him to go now­ because they think £80 million will win them the­ Premiership next season!! Haha don't they remember­ willing him to stay last summer stating how­ irreplaceable he was?! Liverpool to win the premiership­ next season!! Come on you Reds!!

    From cositrains, on Fri 12 Jun 1:50PM

  7. newcastleian1 that means 85%of you will be watching­ them play championship football the ha ha another leeds­ in the making ha ha ha

    From , on Fri 12 Jun 10:28AM

  8. with or without Ronaldo, Man Utd will always be Man­ Utd. Going for trophies each season. Its abt time that­ this gets settled. He is just a spoilt player who will­ only realise what he lost when he loses it...trophies.­ Enuf said abt his diving antics etc. where he can­ continue practicing in Spain. BPL do not need him to­ spoil the way football should be played. Cant wait to­ see who SAF will sign and Im sure he is. By the way,­ sell Nani too if he is worth anything now AND keep­ Tevez!!!

    From Mohd Giggs, on Fri 12 Jun 9:48AM

  9. isnt it amazing how man u fans were singing ronaldos­ name for the last few years and now because he wants to­ follow his dreams to play for madrid he is a ( twit ) a­ diving cheat ) a ( numpty ) and all the other names­ you idiots could think of get a life you sad people.

    From JOHN, on Fri 12 Jun 9:39AM

  10. liverpool season tickets...50% live outside­ merseyside...fact!! manure season tickets...60% live­ outside greater manchester....fact!! newcastle season­ tickets.....85% live on tyneside...fact!!

    From newcastleian1, on Fri 12 Jun 9:24AM

  11. 20 million more and they could buy Newcastle

    From Amir B, on Fri 12 Jun 8:31AM

  12. Recently, I discovered a hot place -- Mixedmingle Co m­ -- where many sexy singles who like sports and chatting­ there. I'm an open minded girl from UK, I also like­ discuss sports and love with handsome guys on it.

    From daivihenry08, on Fri 12 Jun 8:05AM

  13. Real madrid better keep plenty of dummies in stock­ cause they are gonna need them for this FOOL!!!!

    From sir dudley fudley, on Fri 12 Jun 7:38AM

  14. no one player is bigger then a club

    From David V, on Fri 12 Jun 7:30AM

  15. im a lfc fan but for some reason i didnt want him to­ go.

    From BETHANY, on Fri 12 Jun 7:26AM

  16. Where is EUFA ? they r not saying anything if it was to­ fix match like they did chelsea vs barca with tha Gomo­ from northern europe you dem talking

    From danteh, on Fri 12 Jun 6:52AM

  17. R.Madrid is silly to buy this chump for 80 million.I­ think Ronaldo quality and manners should worth about­ one-ten million.

    From Wt, on Fri 12 Jun 6:36AM

  18. Good.We will never see this foolish player with bad­ manners in BPL.All BPL football club wiil celebrate the­ departure of him and cheer for ferguson and MU players­ by get rid of this chump.

    From Wt, on Fri 12 Jun 6:32AM

  19. Next year MU is going down because the departure of­ Ronaldo,Tevez and maybe Scholes and Neville want to­ start a new live.

    From Wt, on Fri 12 Jun 6:27AM

  20. Yes i was shocked to open up my Web and find this,­ though i have to say it was coming for a long time now.­ 80million ain't a price for rejection, for any­ player in the world that includes the World Best­ Player.. Ron. But this could lead to a new legend in­ our squad, Wayne Rooney who's for me the should-be­ no.1 United favourite. Beckham left, Ruud left.. but we­ always couped with the situation didn't we,­ ironically all left for Real, none have succeeded more­ than they did at O.T.

    Anyway Thanks Ron for the­ Trophies and Glorious Moments you helped us win.­ Wherever you'll go you'll always remain a true­ Hero and United's big legend. In the end every man­ has the right to see out his dreams.. Goodluck­ Ron!!

    It's your time now to shine.. COME ON­ ROOONEY!!

    From MatthewM, on Fri 12 Jun 6:06AM
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