Transfers - Gossip Shop: Ronaldo wants more

Eurosport - Tue, 11 Nov 21:46:00 2008

Before the Gossip Shop flings open its doors today, it is necessary to post a warning in the window.

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

Considering the current global financial meltdown - which must be pretty serious given that even Chelsea's transfer policy has been affected - what follows may induce rage, nausea and no small amount of envy.

Cristaino Ronaldo's agent has met with Manchester United officials with a view to increasing his client's weekly wage to a whopping £130,000.

That's right, £130,000 a week. The meagre £120,000 he currently pockets every seven days is clearly not enough for either the Portuguese winger or his Mr 10 per cent, but a 10 grand pay rise should just about do the trick.

But that kind of deal is not going to come easy. Oh no, Ronaldo will have to show some loyalty to earn the increase, meaning he'll no longer be able to open his trap about a move to Real Madrid.

And that, Gossip Shop reckons, must surely rank as some of the easiest money he'll ever make. (Other than getting paid for doing nothing more than driving a car around the streets of Lisbon to a Fatboy Slim soundtrack for a Suzuki advert.)

Talking of silly money, let's head across town, where there's plenty of it sloshing around Manchester City's coffers.

The latest rumour to emanate from Middle Eastlands is that City will offer Jose Mourinho the princely sum of £15 million a year to return to England and replace Mark Hughes.

According to The Sun, plans to bring the Special One to Manchester were hatched five weeks ago, long before doubts were raised over Hughes's position at the club.

The Internazionale boss is thought to be unhappy with certain aspects of the Italian game, one of which The Sun claims to be media hostility - none of that stuff over here, Jose - and he has already stated his desire to return to the Premier League at some stage.

Hughes may have received a recent vote of confidence from owner Khaldoon Al-Mubarek, but it was a flimsy one at best and he was given no assurances over his long-term future at the club, leaving the door open for Mourinho's long-awaited return at the end of the season.

Elsewhere, in the non-sports pages of the same paper, a beaming Noel Gallagher is pictured being presented with a signed Alessandro Del Piero shirt.

Now Gossip Shop isn't one to peddle unsubstantiated rumours (a barefaced lie), but the Juventus and Italy striker is well known to be a huge fan of Oasis - he even appeared in one of their videos, probably swaggering about looking moody, wearing Stan Smiths and a parka with the fur-lined hood up.

And with the Gallagher brothers heading a list of celebrity City fans - which incidentally also includes Ricky Hatton, Bernard Manning and Curly Watts from Corrie - is it possible that Del Piero could up sticks and make a shock move to Eastlands?

Jamming at Carrington and post-match drinks in the directors' lounge with his rock heroes could prove too big a temptation for a man who would also benefit from a big money move before he retires. Watch this space.

First Cris. Then Fred, followed Alex and Jo. A number of Brazilian footballers with English-sounding yet vaguely amusing mono-monikers have graced the game in recent years.

And now there is another, and he could be on his way to Arsenal . Allow Gossip Shop to introduce bright young Palmeiras striker... Lenny .

He may have a rubbish name - well, at least compared to the likes of Zico, Adair, Jarzinho, Romario or even Socrates - but according to the Mirror, the Gunners have already tied up the starlet with a pre-contract agreement.

Apparently the youngster has impressed during his 12 appearances for the Brazilian side this season, alerting Arsene Wenger who is planning to bring him to Europe with a view to loaning him out to a Spanish club to gain experience and a work permit in much the same way as Carlos Vela did.

Andrei Arshavin - remember him? The golden child of Russian football who wanted a move to Barcelona in the summer - or anywhere for that matter, including Tottenham - but didn't get it. Well, having seen his team fail to qualify for next season's Champions League, the Zenit St Petersburg playmaker is back at it and hankering after a move abroad. Premier League clubs have been, as they say, put on red alert.

Spurs could also be interested in the news that midfielder Stephen Appiah is now officially a free agent and no longer tied to Fenerbahce. The Ghana captain got himself involved in an almighty legal wrangle with the Turkish giants over the summer but FIFA have now made the ruling, freeing him up to sign for another club. West Ham and Arsenal are also thought to be keeping track of his whereabouts.

Meanwhile, up in Newcastle, Nicky Butt has added to concerns over the future of the club.

The newly discovered free-kick maestro fears players like Michael Owen and Steve Harper - whose contracts are running out - will leave the club as long as there is uncertainty over the ownership of the club.

In other tittle-tattle, worst Premier League side ever Derby County want Bolton defender Danny Shittu on a month's loan, Hull City are after Dutch speedster Eljero Elia of FC Twente and Roy Keane is interested in taking promising centre-back Adil Rami from Lille to Sunderland.

And with that, the Gossip Shop closes its doors to customers for another day. Thank you, come again.

Eurosport

Comment 17 - 36 of 96

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  1. I like how people are saying Ronaldo need sto produce this season yet dispite missing the first four/five games recovering from an OPERATION he is still Man U top league goalscorer with 6...

    From Ana, on Tue 11 Nov 4:25PM

  2. Chris.H - totally agree with you. Its really rather sick isn't it? And all he's really done is sulk so far since coming back from injury. He scored 42 goals for Utd last season - that can never be ignored or underestimated, but if he's unhappy with £120k a week (splutter) and willing to risk the wrath of the club/manager/fans AGAIN - so soon after hes disgusting flirting with Real Madrid then he's clearly in the sport for himself and his own glory. The way he went for a hatrick instead of squaring for Rooney recently in the league said alot about his need for personal glory. Chris has already said it - stick him on the bench and wait for a £100m offer. Then get Tevez back on the pitch and keep him there!

    Loemakumi - don't be soft. Ronaldo has won a deserved award for scoring 42 goals for Utd and it won't be forgotten. But your either 9years olkd or an idiot if you think he won Utd the league single handed. Plus your comments on Chelsea - Chelsea players only play for Chelsea because of the money!! Where have you been not to have worked that out!?! Chelsea are seperate to every other premiership club in that they have purchased the ability to win trophies - not earned it. So mentioning them in relation to this story is pointless.

    From Dominic, on Tue 11 Nov 4:10PM

  3. Bernard Manning is cheering from beyond the grave is he LMAO is there a medium shouting from the stands in a trance that Robhinio "kin buzzing man"

    From DAZZER, on Tue 11 Nov 4:09PM

  4. $150,000 or not, a trophiless season will be the limiy, and that scenario looks likely.

    If Real retain La Liga, an United win nothing, not even $5,000,000/week will keep him at OT

    From CristianoR, on Tue 11 Nov 4:04PM

  5. Ronaldo doesn't deserve that amount money, he has been terrible this season. Exterberria of Atheletico bilbao is on on nothing. Lampard is on £180,000 a week and thats greed but at least he can play (or he is playing good yhis season). The FA has went fkn dodgy givin that amount of money out a week, I mean in about 26 years a average person would get £130,000 and footballers get that every week. It is fkn sht.

    From steven, on Tue 11 Nov 4:04PM

  6. YEAH I'M SURE DEL PIERO WILL LEAVE JUVE FOR MAN CITY BECAUSE OF HIS MUSIC PREFRENCE, HE DIDNT LEAVE JUVE WHEN THEY WERE RELEGATED AND EMBARRASSED BUT FOR HIS BAND HE WILL LEAVE JUVE. THIS ARTICLE IS GARBAGE.

    From football4life, on Tue 11 Nov 4:00PM

  7. There is only one world class team & that is MAN UTD, but there has got to be time were we say no to over payed & sometimes over rated players, if we are not careful all clubs will be in the position of out pricing tickets for the supporters, we also are getting into the situation of relying on too many bloody foreigners buying our football clubs because true british owners are being priced out of the market place.
    We as a true footballing nation & have got to stand up & be counted, we have the best premier league in the world & most truly gifted world class players want to play in the said league, so why cant they accept they owe the supporters not there bloody wallets.
    The other flip side to our clubs bringing so many foreigners is that are possibly ignoring our home grown talent, lets not forget last year when arsen wenger played a complete side in the premier league wthout any british players in it, WHAT A BLOODY DISGRACE!!!. At least now he has changed that.
    Iam sure there will be supporters out there who disagree but I believe we should make it clear you want to play in the best league in the world then you have a responsibility to the supporters & clubs alike.

    From NOEL B, on Tue 11 Nov 3:58PM

  8. chelsea need a new striker. i'd go for eto'o, luis fabiano or that baliotelli kid from inter milan. man city arent gonna get success due to the fact that the richest club isnt the best club. man city havent got a great reputation so how can it hope to attract names like messi, aguero or kaka. c'mon u blues.!

    From aulsebrook@..., on Tue 11 Nov 3:54PM

  9. exteberria of athletic bilbao is playing this year for free, thats ONE decent footballer around who has devoted his career to one club and wants to give something back

    From Dave S, on Tue 11 Nov 3:48PM

  10. Ok he is a good player and all but £130,000 a week is a bit greedy aint it all they do is run round a pitch kickin a bag of wind around really but knowbody thinks of nurse's that are saving live's and helping the poorly but they don't earn that amount in a year never mind a lifetime just think about it ???

    From s.walley11@..., on Tue 11 Nov 3:44PM

  11. ronaldo, stop crying and start playing. how about some production? even though this year's balon d'or is about last year's greatest player, if he doesn't stop crapping the bed, and talking garbage about starving on 120,000 a month, it might just go to messi...

    From mike, on Tue 11 Nov 3:43PM

  12. Post 18:- I may be being a bit petty here but extortionate and preposterous as £15 million is, I think you need to ask Santa for a calendar and a calculator for Christmas because unless I'm mistaken there are 52 weeks in a year not 48 which would take the weekly earnings to £288,461.53. Again, this may seem petty but it's still a difference of over £24,000 per week from your figure.

    From dmconnell1970, on Tue 11 Nov 3:36PM

  13. His name is Khaldoon Al-Mubarek not Hhaldoon Al-Mubarek

    From halabico, on Tue 11 Nov 3:33PM

  14. what is going on at Man U ,do they mean that they cant give the best player in the world at the moment a 10 000 pound increase what is up with that ? ?????????? he won the league single handly for Man U , i support Chelsea but the figures dont make up for me . I think there are a number of guys at The Brigde who earn more than 150 000 pounds a week so why can you not give that much to Ronaldo??????????????? This is how clubs lose their players ,stop being stingy Man U ,just give the man what he wants!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    From Leo, on Tue 11 Nov 3:29PM

  15. one of the reasons to why a football player gets paid so much is becuase he is really good at what they do, in comparison to actors someone like Daniel-Day lewis gets paid a lot becuase he's good at what he does. I agree that football players get paid way too much.

    From sonejiabhishek, on Tue 11 Nov 3:18PM

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    CHAMPIONS LEAGUE – UEFA CUP
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    From go to www.premiership.altervista.org, on Tue 11 Nov 3:18PM

  17. RONALDO IS JUST ACTING AN @#$% COZ HIS WAGE HAS JUST BEEN INCREASED TO 120000

    From odongivan, on Tue 11 Nov 3:12PM

  18. In the middle of a recession, when most ordinary people are @#$%ting themselves about whether they will keep their 1300-a-month jobs or not, who is this tw*t with his 130 grand a week wage demands?

    Enough of this nonsense. Man U have Tevez, Rooney, Berbatov etc etc etc. Stick him on the bench on reduced wages, and tell the eurpoean clubs they can have him anytime for £100 million.

    From CHRIS, on Tue 11 Nov 3:10PM

  19. Arshavin is good but very lazy and not half as fit as the average Premier league players, but he knows exactly where the goal is. Better still over at the capital is a brilliant player with 17 goals in 20 outings for CSK and called Wagner Love. And a lot of PL side would indeed LOVE to have him even on loan during Russian winter season.

    From not printable, on Tue 11 Nov 2:43PM

  20. cannot believe ronaldo wants £130.000 per week,where will this end,and now it appears aman city are to offer "the chosen one" 15 million a year [ that's a whopping £312,500 per week[ the world has gone mad

    From P M, on Tue 11 Nov 2:32PM
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