Premier League - Charlton: Ronaldo fee 'vulgar'

Eurosport - Thu, 18 Jun 18:03:00 2009

Manchester United great Bobby Charlton believes Cristiano Ronaldo will eventually regret leaving Old Trafford and the £80 million fee the club have accepted from Real Madrid is "vulgar".

FOOTBALL 2008 FIFA World Club Championship Manchester United's Bobby Charlton hands Cristiano Ronaldo winner's medal - 0

The 71-year-old, who has been associated with the English Premier League club for more than half a century, said he was confident United manager Alex Ferguson would find suitable replacements for the Portuguese forward.

"It's a lot of money, it's crazy really," the United director said. "If you want to be in the race, you have to pay the price... it seems sometimes a little bit vulgar.

"But nevertheless that is business, I'm afraid. We have responsibilities to our company and to all the fans that support Manchester United and it was decided that Ronaldo could go.

"But it's a little bit soul-searching, you never know if you've made the right decision until the start of the season.

"It's an enormous amount. We will make sure we will use it properly and our club will be better for it."

Charlton, who scored 249 goals in 758 games for United from 1956 to 1973, said he thought Ronaldo would eventually rue leaving the three-times European champions for Spain.

"He is a great player," said Charlton. "He's been with us for five or six years and in that time he has improved beyond all recognition.

"I suppose, in time, he will reflect, and say, that the best time he ever had in football was when he was at Manchester United. It was better for him and it was fantastic for the club.

"But we have no divine rights, we talked him out of it for one year but he's gone and we move on."

Ronaldo has scored 118 goals in 291 appearances since he joined United in 2003 but Charlton does not think he is irreplaceable.

"Ronaldo leaves us because as a young boy he always dreamt about playing for Real Madrid, so if he leaves us, it's with our blessing," said Charlton, a World Cup winner with England in 1966.

"Instead of him? I'll have to leave that to Alex Ferguson. He is a great judge of a player, he's very brave with his decisions, he's very decisive with his decisions and that's why he's been a great success.

"Who the players will be I don't know, but they will be worthy of putting on the shirt for Manchester United."

Reuters

Comment 136 - 155 of 155

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  1. You bet....another Beckham in the making....Oh well, at­ least ManU found a victim who was willing to pay for a­ pain in the butt!!!

    From Jose Ma., on Mon 22 Jun 5:45PM

  2. what???!!! macheda? like ronaldo? #142 be real. he has­ to learn to craw b4 he can run.
    u'll be sorry u­ sold ronaldo.-true reds LFC 4life

    From torres9, on Mon 22 Jun 1:23PM

  3. news in real want there 80 mill back for ronaldo as­ they have just found out primark are selling big girls­ blouses for £4.99

    From ahorler, on Sat 20 Jun 10:07AM

  4. Ronaldo will end like Beckham..

    From Angelos, on Sat 20 Jun 4:09AM

  5. Ronaldo had Rooney alongside in all the games . let`s­ see how he does without him . Kaka is similar to­ ronaldo in style so lets see how they pan out .­ interesting to watch

    From Ricardo, on Fri 19 Jun 11:48PM

  6. BIG NEWS NEWS FLASH
    ON RONALDO
    REAL MADRID PULL OUT­ OF THE TRANSFER
    THEIR GOING TO PRIMARK FOR A GIRL­ BLOUSE FOR £4
    THEY VE SAVED A BIT OF MONEY

    From ann d, on Fri 19 Jun 8:01PM

  7. Ronaldo will go to madrid, madrid will make him s*@#­ and then theyll just send him back to the premier­ league just like Owen

    From henry_michael_daly, on Fri 19 Jun 6:30PM

  8. Hey Scouse Mark - I heard it before you but I'm a­ very slow typer.

    From Hutch, on Fri 19 Jun 5:30PM

  9. it will be very vulgar when we spend it ha ha and­ scouse mark im english and manc born and bred dont­ liverpooh have any foreign fans then cos i sure seen­ some asian and african names on your pages

    From daz, on Fri 19 Jun 4:26PM

  10. SHUT YA FACE HUTCH...... WE HEARD THAT 10 MINUTES AFTER­ RONALDO WENT....

    From scouse mark YNWA, on Fri 19 Jun 4:10PM

  11. I CANT SEE ONE ENGLISH NAME HERE SUPPORTING MAN UNITURD

    From scouse mark YNWA, on Fri 19 Jun 4:09PM

  12. BREAKING NEWS: ********

    It looks like the £80 million­ deal to take Ronaldo to Real Madrid is off!!!!
    The Real­ Madrid Chairman has changed his mind when after finding­ out he can buy a big girl's blouse at Primark for­ £4.99.

    From Hutch, on Fri 19 Jun 12:50PM

  13. as in he will be a money hungry, primadonna who loves­ himself and thinks he's the best.

    From Tom, on Fri 19 Jun 11:07AM

  14. yeah right..talk n talk n talk n praise n praise n­ praise..maybe he get wages for praising his former­ club?:-|

    From Fazreen A, on Fri 19 Jun 11:07AM

  15. messi was full of determination..he will go on running­ even someone tackles him badly..his body balance is­ perfect (maybe because he is small?) unlike ronaldo who­ loves to dive and loves to deny it too..

    From Fazreen A, on Fri 19 Jun 11:02AM

  16. Macheda will turn out to be another Ronaldo. He's­ already got the greasy look.

    From Tom, on Fri 19 Jun 11:01AM

  17. the whole of professional football is vulger and­ corrupt,from beggining to end.

    From impactclean, on Fri 19 Jun 10:24AM

  18. VULGAR. WELL IT MATCHES THE PLAYER

    From arthurlaws, on Fri 19 Jun 9:05AM
  19. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    WHEN WE TALKING ABOUT ROONEY.. FOR SURE HE IS THE­ GREATEST PLAYER EVA. WHO WATCH THE CHAMPS LEAGUE­ FINAL.. HE EASILY GOT THE BALL FROM MESSI'S LEG. !!­ LUCKY FOR MESSI HE JUST RARELY FOUGHT FACE TO FACE­ WITH ROONEY. HUA HUA ..

    From ismail_xyz, on Fri 19 Jun 8:18AM

  20. THANK YOU FOR YOUR 80MIL FOR MAN UTD. :-D

    From ismail_xyz, on Fri 19 Jun 8:15AM
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