Premier League - Ronaldo "will stay at United"

Eurosport - Fri, 18 Jul 21:12:00 2008

Sir Alex Ferguson has said Cristiano Ronaldo will definitely stay at Manchester United after meeting him for talks.

2008 Sir Alex Ferguson Cristiano Ronaldo - 0

Ferugson travelled to Lisbon on Monday for talks with Ronaldo, who had stated his desire to join Real Madrid, and claimed he persuaded the 23-year-old to remain at Old Trafford.

"The meeting went well - I think we both put across our points of view - where we stand and where the player stands," said Ferguson.

"I can say he'll be a Manchester United player next season. That's our stance - he won't be sold."

The Spanish side's determined pursuit of Ronaldo has dominated United's summer, with Real reportedly willing to pay a world record fee of £60 million for his services.

United have been angered by the Liga champions' behaviour, and reported them to FIFA for 'tapping-up' based on their repeated, public statements of interest.

Ronaldo has said several times it is his "dream" to join Real, and last week agreed with FIFA president Sepp Blatter's claim that United's refusal to sell was tantamount to "modern slavery".

The Portuguese international is currently recovering from an ankle operation and is not expected to play again until October.

He scored 42 goals for United last season, helping them to scoop a Premier League and Champions League double.

Despite the club's increasing frustration, Ferguson claimed he was not worried as Ronaldo still has four years to run on his contract.

"It's not a difficult position. I was on my holiday and I was not going to interrupt my holiday, believe me," he said.

"I wasn't panicked because the player is under contract so the strength and the rights are with Manchester United.

"What we have done well is to say nothing. We've kept quiet on this matter and kept it private and what I said to Cristiano remains private. I did go and see him last week in Portugal and it was very amicable - there were no problems. That's where we are and we carry on."

The Scotsman also said he would resist the temptation to rush Ronaldo back into action, saying: "He's had an operation and he'll be out for three months."

"He's on crutches for the first four weeks, he'll be in rehabilitation for the next four and then the following four he'll be back into football training. The time mapped out is three months and we won't bring him back a day earlier than that.

"I think when players have operations we have a responsibility that the player comes back 100 per cent and we'll carry that out as we normally do.

"There'll be no risk-taking - we never take risks. Our goal is to always make sure that the player gets back 100 per cent and that will be the same in the case of Cristiano Ronaldo."

Alex Chick / Sporting Life / Eurosport

Comment 109 - 128 of 128

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  1. "MUKOOVADJE.G"...your argument, which I respect, presents, However, a Fallacy, on it's
    "Rationale"...1)I Agree totally, that "ONES" Personnal Results/Contributions, is the "DECIDING" Criteria of Evaluation and estimation of a Players "WORTH"..! 2) I have to disagree, with you, that a "WINNING TEAM", is NEVER CHANGED...because what ultimately, CREATES the "NEED"for CHANGE, is the TACTICS, to be Applied, Match by Match..!3) However, that, is an Half TRUTH, cause you MUST "RENOVATE", constantly your
    Team's POTENTIAL...AND that, is why Sir Alex, is Tapping/Bidding for the likes of BERBATOV...!4) Lastly, if you bear with me, a tiny bit longer..NO ONE ...."CAN GIVE" WHAT he "HASNNT GOT"..! and RONALDO, already "HAD THE GENIUS" of a Football Player..whether he later "DEVELOPED HIS TALENTS" in YES,the GLORIOUS "MAN.U" with Sir Alex, or "ANYWHERE ELSE"for that Matter...and we were GRACED by Fergy/Carlos QUEIROZ,
    Success in SECURING RONALDO, as a Man.U Player!!- PERIOD! Thanks, for your Attention.-LONDON

    From Dean_ManU, on Sun 20 Jul 12:52PM

  2. Hi. I'm portuguese. There's something i really can't understand about you, MU fans and others: it is the fact u say ronaldo is a so fantastic player. He is not that fantastic, god dammit!! He might be a fast player and he's been quite regular throughout the season. But he is not as good as the real good ones. He has not the technic best players have. He fails lots of times during games. It even sux sometimes. I don't like to see him performing 'cause of it; he's like an entertainer... just playing for crowd. And... worst of all, he fails too many times his "hands".An "entertainer is a really good one if he doesn't fail so many times.;) And real good players don't fail that often. I hate portuguese media and even england media when they say ronaldo is the 1 in the world. IT'S FULLY FALSE AND EVEN RIDICULOUS!! He's just a guy with lots of will of playing and win. And off course, such things r very important and make a player better. Open your eyes. MU was already an amazing team before ronaldo. The point is you english were not perhps used to watch players playing the way he does... and so u got kinda blind. But trust me, u'll keep wining trophys with or without ronaldo.;)
    Sorry my english, by the way.
    Regards.

    From quimmeric, on Sun 20 Jul 12:47PM

  3. Ones performance is seen from results,however, the results may be an attribute of a team not single individuals.
    if i may quote one of the football administrators you cant change a winning team unless you have a problem with your self.That could be the ground for Sir Alex to cling on to Christiano and to me it is justifiable considering Alex s in put in the football that Ronaldo plays to date and that while in Lisbon. The so called big teams should learn to develop players not to wait for other teams to perform that role.

    From mukoodwa G, on Sun 20 Jul 12:12PM

  4. NO ONE can say "we all HATE" CRISTIANO RONALDO,,BECAUSE it is a BLOODY DAM "LIE" !!
    Only the "few" MORONS, that are allowed to Post Pointless comments, criticize "others" spelling mistakes..and the "likes" BUT FAIL to REAIZE that their "REASONNING" is Faulty or Just a "Nonsense" at best..are Posting those comments!!
    I ADMIRE RONALDO for the "GENIUS" Player that He is...and for WHAT he HAS DONE, to HELP "MY Man.U" ACHIEVE and REACH GLORY, last season!
    Sir Alex is RIGHT! Without him, we can KISS Good-bye to next years EUROPEAN Games..Just look at what that OVERPAID "LOAFER" WAYNE ROONEY has been FAILING to do, now against KAISER CHIEFS..!Iknow them well,saw them playing many times, at Ellis ark, in Johannesburg...ROONEY, the STRIKER, has FAILED AGAIN to do HIS JOB!!LONDON

    From Dean_ManU, on Sun 20 Jul 3:03AM

  5. NICE ONE JOHNNY BOY......... PRAISE THE LARD THAT IS WAZZA THE GAZZA ROONEY...... FOOKIN CABBAGE HEAD MUTHA.... IVE SEEN BETTER LOOKIN STUFF AT THE VEG COUNTER IN TESCO'S THAN THAT BUTE ROONEY....

    From tasha.lawrence, on Sat 19 Jul 10:15PM

  6. David M, - This is an article which is allowed comments on. Do you think people are wasting hours of their lives letting other people know that they have a passion for something? Why are YOU even wasting your time posting that pointless comment? ou obv have some sort of interest. 1, you read the article and 2, you posted.

    If someone wants to go and fight someone elses war and die, its their choice not mine but this aint the place to express those type of feelings! Christina

    From Stina, on Sat 19 Jul 4:53PM

  7. hi join my group on the new game
    username:man u fans
    password:manu

    From danielhagontwo, on Sat 19 Jul 4:31PM

  8. Hey everybody its great that ronnies staying please join my group on fixtures 08/09 username: man u fans
    password:manu

    From danielhagontwo, on Sat 19 Jul 4:29PM

  9. Ha Ha Ha You lot make me laugh, crying over footballer? surely theres more important things today like for instance, learning to spell, our boys in Afghanistan and Iraq,
    get your priorities sorted and get real!

    From David M, on Sat 19 Jul 1:42PM

  10. to roninthejungle
    you aren't xenophobic by any chace are you?

    From donaldelaney900, on Sat 19 Jul 1:12PM

  11. "THE SLAVE" will b treated like beckham,v.nisteroy,owen da big guys who 4rm the premier league wanted to play 4 madrid.

    From parikchitthapa@rocketmail.com, on Sat 19 Jul 1:09PM

  12. ronaldo "THE SLAVE" should b allowed 2 leave old trafford 4 real madrid..real madrid is a team which consits the worlds top footballers and it wont b a surprise if he played as a second half substitute..even without ronaldo man utd,can win more silverware..#%$! off ronaldo 2 ur dream team!!!

    From parikchitthapa@rocketmail.com, on Sat 19 Jul 1:05PM

  13. he's going he's staying he's going he's staying oh my god he sounds like a bad case of thrush. What is amazing that Man U complain about the other clubs tapping up Ronaldo then have the cheek to tap up Spurs players.

    From email.myprivate, on Sat 19 Jul 12:27PM

  14. Ronaldo's bird is Spanish and lives and socialises in Madrid.
    Ronaldo wants to go to Madrid.
    Ronaldo finds out that even the Real kitman has had a piece of his missus.
    Ronaldo wants to stay at United.
    Interesting......................................

    From john_k_tracey, on Sat 19 Jul 11:42AM

  15. where do we start with that boy ronaldo, the guy is class, no denying that. but he is also proving to all united fans that he is getting too big for his boots. he is still under contract at old trafford yet he still runs his mouth wit the blatter statement. mufc's fans are dedicated to their club an dont take kindly to @#$% being spoken by an overpaid youngster who thinks because he's got talent and skill he can dictate to all and sundry what he wants an when he does it, it just needs some words from the wise old mr ferguson to bring him down a peg or two. i loved it when fergie sed he'd rather leave ronaldo on the bench in reserve games for 6 months rather than sell him - how much of a dent would his paycheque from real take then?? prob not a lot but i like the way fergie knows how to play the management game. he is the heart an soul of united an has kept the teams moving forwards an playing the most awesome football the premier league has seen. he fears no one an knows no one is bigger than the club, the likes of beckham an stam know all about that. mufc have style, class, an play by far the most attractive football in the league, why do you think there are so many mufc haters?? THE ONLY THING IS WE LOVE BEING HATED - IT ONLY MAKES US BETTER
    XX THE MIGHTY REDS XX

    From m.stapley, on Sat 19 Jul 11:38AM

  16. "He plays on the left,
    He plays on the right,
    That boy Ronaldo makes ALL the press,
    look sh1t

    7red

    From keithysheard, on Sat 19 Jul 10:38AM

  17. As a united fan my stance on CR's transfer went from "s**t we don't want to lose such a talent to "well f**k off then you money grabbing, disloyal f**k".
    No one can doubt his talent, no one can doubt MUFC's superiority, but the whole story makes a sham of football and makes contracts almost worthless.
    Most footballer are young upstarts, with their heads set firmly up their own arses, who believe their own hype and show no gratitude to those that give them millions each year.
    I wonder if he'll give 100% next season, i for one doubt he will, his price will go down, he'll f**k off to Real for 18m and within 2 months MUFC will have forgotten his talent and another hero will take his place....and fergie will retire.

    From marklock446, on Sat 19 Jul 10:25AM

  18. C ronaldo if ur spirit is with real is better u liv now

    From blezinagal4u, on Sat 19 Jul 9:04AM

  19. No C.ronaldo go away to Real Madrid :D

    From katoti, on Sat 19 Jul 7:40AM

  20. Although everyone hate Ronaldo now because of his comment he said recenlty, as a Man Utd's fan, we should always support him and others player in MU until they leave MU. I think Ronaldo can lead MU to win more trophies this season and we should support him.

    From lawhoiyui, on Sat 19 Jul 6:13AM
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