La Liga - Madrid continue Ronaldo flirtation

Eurosport - Mon, 13 Oct 10:39:00 2008

Real Madrid coach Bernd Schuster is hopeful that Cristiano Ronaldo will be wearing the Spanish giants' colours this time next year.

FOOTBALL Cristiano Ronaldo - 0

Madrid's pursuit of Ronaldo this summer was one of the most protracted and high-profile transfer sagas of recent years, but it ultimately ended in disappointment for the Spanish champions with the Portugal winger opting to remain at Manchester United.

The 23-year-old Ronaldo has made no secret of his desire to one day play for Madrid though, and Schuster believes a deal could be struck in 2009 for a player he feels should win the Ballon d'Or this year.

"I think that next year it is going to be a little more complicated for his club to retain him. There is hope that next year he could be with us," said Schuster.

"You need to do everything possible [to sign Ronaldo] because this player is worth it," added the German, who felt Madrid had a decent chance of landing Ronaldo this summer.

"Since the start I thought it was possible although difficult. Possible because the player really showed an interest," he said.

"His class, his position on the right wing and in other areas of the pitch, his work in attack..he would have been an important signing. He didn't come, but this is the team we have here now and we need to have complete faith in them."

Madrid's summer pursuit of Ronaldo came following a remarkable year of success for the Portuguese ace, who in helping United claim a Premier League and Champions League double struck a remarkable 42 goals.

For Schuster that should result in Ronaldo being rewarded with the Ballon d'Or - the award given to Europe's top footballer of the year - even though his own goalkeeper at Madrid Iker Casillas is also in the running to win the title.

"I think that this year Cristiano Ronaldo deserves it. He was the leading scorer in Europe with 42 goals, has won the league and Champions League... that should be sufficient," Schuster told Marca.

"He didn't do so well with the national team [at Euro 2008], but this was due to Spain and Germany.

"It's easy to say that Spaniards Iker and Xavi [should win it], but if you take into account the overall season you see that Cristiano is the one."

Sporting Life / Eurosport

Comment 19 - 38 of 38

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  1. Ronnie should go to Real madrid. He already win all medal at BPL. now he must take new challange. Go Ronnie.

    From aza_master, on Wed 15 Oct 9:16AM

  2. What a slight to Iker Cassillas. His coach says Ronaldo should get Ballon D'or. He can't really support Ronaldo at the expense of his own goal keeper, can he? I wonder how Iker feels about his boss supporting a Man United player for a trophy his own player is in the running for.
    No shame for this lout Schuster. Blatant @#$% kissing. CR needs to get a tattoo on his bottom to point to, for Schuster to kiss when he signs. Take the money and make him kiss your @#$% too. Shameless.

    From Richard K, on Mon 13 Oct 5:23PM

  3. Who care... he goes he stays... united will wear red t-shirts, win silver trophies, and still be the best team in the world.

    From Shu, on Mon 13 Oct 1:14PM

  4. real madrid are greedy

    From matt_hagland, on Mon 13 Oct 11:58AM

  5. spain are spanish

    From matt_hagland, on Mon 13 Oct 11:57AM

  6. madrid are greedy there are not going anyway with their greediness
    why do ther want to eat other people's products.can they not manufacture their own players.man u produced rponaldo and they want to take him away.thats rather kind of stupid.how can a team consist of all the best players in the world.that shows insufficient thinking

    From Kudzai, on Mon 13 Oct 10:42AM

  7. Billy and James. Oh Dear oh Dear. You really are a pair of deluded Idiots arn't you. Money Didn't buy chelsea all the success they wanted and neither will it at Man city. A few big headed money hunters for players doesn't suddenly make you all conquering. And on another note, NO PLAYER IS BIGGER THAN MANCHESTER UNITED! FACT. If a player leaves its cos Sir Alex says so. petulant wantaway player cause a bad atmosphere. and are better gone. Beckham left, Ruud Left, and United got stronger.

    From binghiman1966@..., on Mon 13 Oct 8:34AM

  8. this summer they lost 1 R for 0 R(1 Robinho for 0 Ronaldo). next summer maybe they loose the dutchman Robben or even Raul perhaps.. just too greedy of everything

    From carlamms, on Mon 13 Oct 8:13AM

  9. real madrid are just greedy

    From Sanjay, on Mon 13 Oct 5:15AM

  10. REAL MADRID IS NOT THE SAME TEAM AS 10 YEARS AGO ,THEY NEED PLAYERS BADLY AS MOST PLAYERS PREFER TO PLAY IN PREM FOR MORE WORLD WIDE TV COVERAGE AND MORE FAME , REAL ARE A CLUB IN DECLINE BECAUSE NO ONE COMES UP FROM THE RANKS , THEY BUY , SAME AS CHELSEA DOES SO LETS HOPE THE PLUMMET FAST AND MAYBE THE GERMAN WONT BE IN CONTROL NEXT SEASON , SOON WE BE HEARING AGAIN FROM THE TWO MUPPETS OF FIFA ABOUT SLAVERY AGAIN , GOOD BYE REAL MADRID YOUR TIME IS UP,

    From Chris, on Mon 13 Oct 4:54AM

  11. "Robinho-ho-ho, Robinho-ho-ho!!"

    Another Robinho man of match performance and two sublime goals again for Brazil tonight with Elano pulling all the strings in midfield, JO is back to lead the line and Berti could start on Wednesday against Columbia...... "It's Samba time at Eastlands!!"

    Listen up all you glory supporting Rag Scum Munes, be afraid - be very afraid your days are numbered and your glory days are finished.

    "The future is very bright, The future is BLUE!!"

    "ONE CITY, OUR CITY...ONE TEAM, MANCHESTER CITY!!"

    From Bilbo, on Mon 13 Oct 12:10AM

  12. Real Madrid fantasize about Ronaldo the way i fantasize about Scarlett Johansson.

    From football4life, on Mon 13 Oct 12:00AM

  13. actually i do like our leaders and the fact that they are trying to get ronaldo. Your boy ronaldo has said it himself that he wants to play for Real Madrid. I guess hes not so loyal to Man Utd. The only reason Man Utd wont let him go is because they are nothing without him which is really sad for a club like Man Utd:(

    From Jessi G, on Sun 12 Oct 11:50PM

  14. I don't understand why people still think that Man U will ever sell Ronaldo to Madrid it would make them look like they a smaller club than Madrid and they simply cant have this after the whole Beckham affair. He simply makes loads of money, for a club which is already in massive heap of @#$% with the financial crisis. Ronaldo if ever sold by Man U will not go to Madrid i am certain ( possibly barcelona)

    From Robert, on Sun 12 Oct 11:15PM

  15. if u are greedy, u loose da little u have. dats y madrid lost robinho.
    they will loose more if the continue their greed.
    dont knw y the madrid funs enjoy being led by such leaders!!!

    From ceegee, on Sun 12 Oct 10:30PM

  16. Billy "James", arses like you should never comment here..you obviously are a jealous loser..don't bother replying i won't be reading your rubbish..and please be adult

    From tyson82003, on Sun 12 Oct 10:30PM

  17. floodstoppa you can't be this stupid....if Ronnie isn't that good then why is he regarded the best player in the present and so many clubs are interested in him...face it you are jealous cos he's not on your team if he was you would be adoring him so shut the @#$% up if you don't have anything intelligent to contribute ..you idiot..

    From tyson82003, on Sun 12 Oct 10:27PM

  18. Ronaldo is a great player and one day he will be a Real Madrid player. Just incase a couple of you boys were wondering ther are no money worries at the Bernabeu!!! If he cost 65 million then so be it. The only people who don't like Ronaldo are the rival fans who he scares the life out of every week as simple as that!!!. Hala Madrid.

    From silvermadrid, on Sun 12 Oct 9:38PM

  19. FACK AF TAY SPAIN YAY UGLY FACK.

    From dannysbac, on Sun 12 Oct 9:07PM

  20. It's not about football, it's about selling t-shirts and hair gel

    From buda, on Sun 12 Oct 8:36PM
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