Premier League - Ronaldo: Yes, I am a slave

Eurosport - Fri, 11 Jul 12:44:00 2008

Cristiano Ronaldo believes FIFA president Sepp Blatter was right to controversially describe him as being treated like a "modern-day slave" by current club Manchester United.

2008 Cristiano Ronaldo - 0

Ronaldo was responding to Blatter's comments made earlier in the day, in which the head of world football insisted the player should be allowed to join Spanish giants Real Madrid if he wants to.

"I completely agree with the FIFA president," said the player currently resting in Portugal after undergoing an ankle operation.

He added: "The president is correct, but I do not want to say more."

Real Madrid are believed to be prepared to offer around £68 million for the 23-year-old and pay him £150,000-a-week on a five-year deal.

Ronaldo, a boyhood Real fan, has consistently been linked with a move to the Spanish capital since the end of last season after scoring an impressive 42 goals last term as United won both the Premier League and Champions League.

"There is no agreement with Real Madrid and I still don't know where I will be playing next season," Ronaldo said on Thursday, adding that he will be out for "10 to 12 weeks" to recover from his operation.

Wading into the protracted wrangle over the player's future, Blatter said that the current practice of tying players to long contracts amounts to "modern slavery".

And he urged Manchester United and Real Madrid "to sit together" if Ronaldo wants a move to the Spanish club.

"The important thing is we should also protect the player," Blatter said.

"If the player wants to play somewhere else, then a solution should be found because if he stays in a club where he does not feel comfortable to play then it's not good for the player and for the club.

"I'm always in favour of protecting the player and if the player, he wants to leave, let him leave."

Blatter believes the issue raises questions about the way transfers and contracts are dealt with in the game.

"I think in football there's too much modern slavery in transferring players or buying players here and there, and putting them somewhere," he continued.

"We are trying now to intervene in such cases. The reaction to the Bosman law is to make long-lasting contacts in order to keep the players and then if he wants to leave, then there is only one solution, he has to pay his contract."

United issued a swift rebuke to Blatter's outburst, insisting that all their players were happy to sign contracts with the club and knew the consequences of entering into such an agreement.

A United 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's communications director William Gaillard, who serves as special advisor to European football governing body president Michel Platini, was also unimpressed by Blatter's outburst.

"It would be useful to remind people that slaves in all of the slavery systems never earned a wage," said Gaillard.

In contrast, Gaillard fears the Bosman ruling, which allows for free transfers at the end of contracts, has given players the upper hand and contributed to spiralling wages.

"It seems that both clubs and players are trying to negotiate an exit before the player is free," Gaillard said.

"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."

AFP

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  1. My dad makes 15 grand a year as a gardener for the council, me and my dad read in the paper yesterday that ranaldo spent 15 grand in 2 hours buying bubbly for paris hilton. Its absolutely discusting that he can spend what my dad makes a year working his arse off for in just 2 hours and think nothing of it. Plus i also think that its like rubbing it in everybody elses faces who are suffering and struggling to cope in these resessionary times.

    From SARAH JANEW, on Sat 13 Jun 8:19AM

  2. i hope Ronaldo can read this or some1 can make him read this.
    "Ronaldo: I am a slave"
    u know what..when u said that, u betrayed all Man Utd fans whose wearing MU jersey with ur name on it..u betrayed all the fans who cheering ur name and team mates who lifted u up when u score the goals...u betrayed Ferguson for believing in u! Ah..and the Glazer family also, for paying u the highest salary ever for a slave…! now no matter where u r going to be for the next season, if u never get the best player in the world award, u have no 1 else to be blame but u yourself!

    From kent_cyclops1318, on Thu 17 Jul 9:02AM

  3. un_disputed - 'Big up Mogabe'?!? Are u a @#$% @#$%? And do you actually live in Zimbabwe? Obviously not or you could spell Mugabe properly. Football isn't about politics, you thick @#$%. This is a FOOTBALL message board. Just wanted to clear that up. And if its so great in Zimbabwe, how come they don't have a democratically elected government, why is inflation so high (125,000%, the highest in the world) and why are their people starving. When it was under British rule it was known as the bread basket of Africa, now it only serves to line Mugabe's pockets. People like you brought Hitler to power and kept Amin in charge of Uganda, you make me sick. BBC lies?!? How about every news agency in the world factually reporting the horrific suffering and famine of the innocent civilians in Zimbabwe. Hope you die

    From XS, on Mon 14 Jul 10:29AM

  4. Man U should break his ankles and brand his tongue... see how far he gets then, the oily little g-t!
    As for Blatter... he looks exactly like the woman in the chip shop at the end of my street. Freaky, or what!

    From Nina G, on Mon 14 Jul 5:02AM

  5. I'll tell you the reason ManU wants to keep Ronaldo. It's virtually inevitable that Cristiano Ronaldo will be the FIFA World Player Of the Year 2008...ManU wants to keep Ronaldo so that when he is named the best player of the year he'll be playing in the English Premier League and with Manchester United. If they feel they need his services after that they'll keep him and if they don't, they will sell him to his "Dream" team.

    From p j, on Sun 13 Jul 5:45PM

  6. Now Man utd know what Everton felt like with Rooney

    From dmveyron, on Sun 13 Jul 9:49AM

  7. I want to be a slave for 10 times cheaper than this f***ing t**th

    From Mervin A, on Sun 13 Jul 4:06AM

  8. Oh yeah & lets get one thing straight it's the REAL slaves who go out and work hard all week who pay the high entrance fees to games that pay the ASTRONOMICAL WAGES that the likes of that poor SLAVE Ronaldo gets every week £120,000 + .....HE REALly did'nt do himself any favours when he agreed with Blatter the Twatter about those poor footballing slaves......god it makes me so angry, I could crush a grape.....to death

    From phillip, on Sat 12 Jul 10:28PM

  9. Dont go c ronaldo they trying to trick you so you dont be the champian again.

    From Ayaz, on Sat 12 Jul 3:49PM

  10. Well tne national news did a good job on him tonight and summed it up nicely.....Ronaldo is a slave........................to the money

    blatter is a fannybawz as well, should keep his gob shut where it does'nt concern him, probably best mates with Calderon who is another interfering fannybawz, anyway poor Ronaldo someone pass me a hanky think I'm gonna cry for the numpty.....prima donna's the lot of em..... should make em sweep chimney's like they used to make kids do back in day.......Ronaldo you are a spoilt lil brat....period

    From phillip, on Sat 12 Jul 1:03AM

  11. What any Observant and Perceptive READER, can pick up from this "FERGY-RON" SAGA...is that it's NOT ALL Down to LOYALTY,DISRESPECT,COMMITMENT,CONTRACTS or Even FOOTBALL..!!
    Players ALL OVER, Break Contracts..Clubs TERMINATE/CANCEL Contracts..EVERYDAY!
    WHAT, to me is AMAZINGLY Obvious, is that Sir Alex(and HIS SON's,too) "VALUE OF SHARES"
    in MAN.U, along with the Glazer Crowd, who "HAVE TONS OF THE STUFF" will CERTAINLY take a HUGE FALL, should the "MONEY MAKING PLAYERS"(Not the Geriatic Lot,OR Residual Bunt OUTS)..such as RONALDO.!!- DECIDE Better, THEIR "OWN" Investment Interests..
    WHICH, is "WHAT"the Lad, is wanting to do, and NOT BE HELD as an "HOSTAGE"...to Wheeling and Dealing "GODFATHERS" at the "New" OLD TRAFFORD..- Good Luck, RONALDO-LONDON

    From Dean_ManU, on Sat 12 Jul 12:49AM

  12. ronaldo as if you said that you idiot not the best thing to say at the moment when we are all paying tax maybe we should all rip up our tax discs in our cars and tell the government we are slaves

    From chris, on Fri 11 Jul 8:14PM

  13. I'm a Man Utd fan but I kinda hope he leaves since he's gone against his word.
    I mean when you sign a five year contract and I mean recently, that means you want to be there for five years, and now that he wants to leave and ignore this contract that's like betraying the club, betraying the manager and betraying the fans.
    So I say "Go Ronaldo, f**k off to Madrid and we'll watch you win next to p**s all, like where did Real finish in the Champions League last season?, and I hope we offer to part exchange for Robinho & Sergio Ramos".

    From Mike, on Fri 11 Jul 6:07PM

  14. from my point of view, ronaldo is in it for the money. im a united fan and i cant remember a player of such form go DOWN to the smaller, and worser club. but, if he goes, i wish him luck.i mean do u remeber beckham going down....

    From rooneyfriends, on Fri 11 Jul 5:23PM

  15. I think Ronaldo forgot that unlike a slave he is well paid for doing what he knows best and enjoys doing; He was not blindfolded into signing the contract he signed with Man Utd. This trend [of a player being at liberty to renege on his contract] will only rubbish football ultimately. And it is a shame indeed that Blatter could subscribe to this conduct, other wise how could he make such reckless pronouncement at such a critical stage of the footballing season? Football is a capitalist venture; he who pays the piper dictates the tune. If a player after voluntarily signing a contract decides to quit his club, it should be treated as a breach of contract and exemplary damages commensurate with the current market value of the player should be awarded the club against the player, not that the player should merely compensate the club.

    From wole a, on Fri 11 Jul 3:38PM

  16. READ THIS!!

    cr7 aint leaving for the money he's leaving for the lifestyle that manchester just cant offer him and just because you pay him well doent mean you can hold on to him by force and let him rot on the bench like the owners suggested. i agree with blatter and ronnie on the fact that united are treating him like a slave! just because players sign contracts doesnt mean they must live and die by them because after all when a club is done with a player they sell them on, against their wishes, or dont offer good enough contracts. children in asia get paid for their labour but are still considered slaves. you dont need shackles and chains to be a slave!!!

    From un_dissputed, on Fri 11 Jul 2:15PM

  17. oh and p.s. stop talking your propaganda based shyte comparing living situations in zimbabwe like it was any better when it was under the control of brittain!!! the only difference in zimbabwe today is that the brittish are out!! big up mogabe! all you know is bbc lies.

    From un_dissputed, on Fri 11 Jul 2:11PM

  18. ha ha ha ha ha!! lol at all you pathetic man u fans that couldnt do nothing but talk about players leaving arsenal for money. cr7 aint leaving for the money he's leaving for the lifestyle that manchester just cant offer him and just because you pay him well doent mean you can hold on to him by force and let him rot on the bench like the owners suggested. i agree with blatter and ronnie on the fact that united are treating him like a slave! just because players sign contracts doesnt mean they must live and die by them because after all when a club is done with a player they sell them on, against their wishes, or dont offer good enough contracts. children in asia get paid for their labour but are still considered slaves. you dont need shackles and chains to be a slave!!!

    From un_dissputed, on Fri 11 Jul 2:07PM

  19. Okay everybody, lets bring the curtain down on this Ronaldo/Blatter episode.
    Firstly Christiano old boy, you state that you have been a lifelong Real Madrid fan & always had a desire to play there. So why last year did you sign an extention to your United contract ? Answer, your agent could'nt get any commitment from Real Madrid on weather they wanted you or not. But now after scoring 42 goals in the hardest league in the world they suddenly fancy signing you. Problem is your under a 5 year contract with United. In steps your Mr 10%. Start stiring it up. What is worrying me though is, if Real Madrid would like to sign you, Have Chelsea, Barcelona, A.C.Milan, & the other BIG clubs in Europe gone to sleep. No Ronaldo be a man, fullfill your contract with United, then in 3/4 years when @ 27/28 your coming into your prime & it's time to start the re-negotations, tell Mr 10% to see whats on offer OUTSIDE United.
    Now Herr Blatter Its your turn.
    If Ronaldo was plying his trade in lets say Zimbabwe, he (A) would'nt be on a £100,000 a week, Robert would have taken 90% off him in tax, leaving him with nothing after Mr 10% had been paid. & (B) He would'nt be idolised as he is now because there is only one God in Zimbabwe. Now thats modern day slavery Herr Blatter.
    As a footnote Christiano,
    PLEASE stop the diving. A good diver gats 9.75 & applause All you get is resentment & jears.
    Turbo 2 (St Helens)

    From peterurbo, on Fri 11 Jul 1:15PM

  20. I can't believe what I am reading. Long-term contracts are a bad thing for the players? They provide security in the form of a guaranteed salary for a fixed term of years. How is that bad? Look at Lampard's situation - he wanted a five-year deal at Chelsea and they were only willing to offer a four-year deal. Seems to me that Frank seems to think long-term contracts are a pretty good thing. When a contract is signed, the club risks the player not meeting expectations over the term of the contract and the player risks finding greener pastures over the term of the contract. Both parties are aware of this at the time the contract is signed. I don't think the Bosman ruling is a bad thing. In every day contract law, breach of contract can result in harsh financial penalties for the party that breaches. In this case, a player either fulfills his contractual obligation or buys out the remainder of his contract to avoid the legal ramifications for breach of contract. How is this unfair? It's time for the Blatter to be removed, preferably by force. He embarrassess himself and the game.

    From Ida Futstein, on Fri 11 Jul 1:10PM
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