Premier League - Ronaldo chose to quit in 2008

Eurosport - Sun, 21 Jun 14:36:00 2009

Cristiano Ronaldo says he made up his mind last year to quit Manchester United for Real Madrid, whom he has agreed to join for a world record £80 million.

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

Madrid courted Ronaldo all through last summer but the 24-year-old decided to stay and try to help United defend their 2008 Champions League title, featuring in their final loss in May to Barcelona.

Although United retained their English Premier League title, Ronaldo told the paper he decided to leave after the May 2007 final win over Chelsea.

"After we won the European Cup. I thought there is no more I can achieve here," the Portuguese told the News of the World.

"And when you have done all you can, you know it is time for a new challenge. I stayed one more season and it was nice to make it three titles in a row but it was my dream to play for Madrid."

Ronaldo is reportedly set to earn £11m a year with Real to become the world's highest-paid footballer once the finishing touches are put to his move but he insisted: "Of course, I have not gone for the money.

"To go down as the greatest. It will take lots of work but that is my target. If you go down as the greatest at Madrid it means you are one of the greatest of all time."

Ronaldo also touched on his antics in the 2006 World Cup, when he greeted the sending off of United teammate Wayne Rooney during his country's quarter-final win over England with a sly wink.

"Sometimes you do things because emotions are running high - but Wayne is my good friend," Ronaldo said.

"I can't regret it because I think the whole experience made me stronger.

"But looking back it was not the right thing to do and not something I would do any more."

AFP

Comment 145 - 164 of 164

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  1. daniel, well said respect from man u fan

    From jon g, on Tue 23 Jun 11:14AM
  2. hey Man Utd fans, DON'T be fanatic, let the kid­ go... he's done the best 4 u. Mayb one day­ he'll be back, but don't be unfair with him...­ you just live once & he allways had madrid's­ dream. It doesn't means he isn't greatfull. He­ loves england, but sportsmen needs new challanges.­ That's called ambition & courage. Don't­ judge what you can't deal with.

    From Daniel Alex. F. Menezes, on Tue 23 Jun 10:09AM
  3. Shaka.People have said this for years.When Cantona­ left,the same when Beckham left and now with­ Ronaldo.When will you learn?United will come back­ stronger than before.We will continue to win­ titles.M.U.F.C

    From jamie, on Mon 22 Jun 9:34AM
  4. if you wanna go, then I'll say to you 'get the­ f**k out' and United will be better without you..­ f**ker..

    From Angelos, on Mon 22 Jun 8:49AM
  5. Since you have been playing so much at ManU, your new­ challenge is to sit on the Bench at RM and vegetate..­ What a bunch of BULL ! There are times in your life­ that you should just " Shut Up."

    From ????, on Mon 22 Jun 7:18AM
  6. C ronaldo is a @#$% hi is a good actor hi is not a­ strong and a good player some time he lukes to me like­ woman

    From kujtimbeqiri, on Sun 21 Jun 11:58PM
  7. MAN U IS NOTHING WITHOUT CR7

    From Shaka, on Sun 21 Jun 10:24PM
  8. He`s been stringing man ure along all this time.
    The­ sly old dog !

    From Bike 69, mabaho ka !, on Sun 21 Jun 8:49PM
  9. bye bye mancy boys.. your time is up.

    From CARL, on Sun 21 Jun 7:23PM
  10. You put your transfer in,
    Your transfer out,
    In out, in­ out, you @#$% your club about,
    You do the Cristiano and­ you change your mind,
    That's what it's all­ about!!!

    Ohhhhhh Ronaldo is a wonker,
    Ohhhhhh Ronaldo­ is a wonker,
    Knees bent, arms stretched, dive dive dive

    From Bryan, on Sun 21 Jun 7:22PM
  11. Let's see next season who is the boss at Real­ Madrid.
    Ronaldo, Kaka, or even Ribery or David­ Villa?
    Maybe a few words will be exchanged in the­ dressing room...

    From Michel, on Sun 21 Jun 6:56PM
  12. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    lets see just how good ronaldo is when wayne rooney­ isn't chasing back all the balls he's lost and­ giving him great passes while he waits around for them.­ madrid is a career killing club, enjoy not winning @#$%­ ronaldo!

    From ryan w, on Sun 21 Jun 5:51PM
  13. STOP...... CARRY ON!!!

    From Close The Door Behind You Rafa., on Sun 21 Jun 5:05PM
  14. I heard Real Madrid want to pull out of the Ronaldo­ deal....they heard they can get a big girls blouse for­ a tenner at Matalan!!

    From Ragman, on Sun 21 Jun 4:21PM
  15. Ronaldo and Tevez's departure is a blow to Ferguson­ . He is so desperate to bring in
    players to replace­ them . Benzema , Ribery , Torres , Villa , Valencia ,­ Silva , Eto'o , Valdes . Ferguson should
    make­ serious bids and consider the players in every aspects­ . Not just signing players without knowing
    the reason­ behind it . Benzema , Ribery , Villa and Silva is just­ nice . Valencia is totaly out .
    By the way , who is he­ to replace Ronaldo -.-. Torres' bid is a JOKE !!­ Although i would be delighted if the bid succeed .

    From ahn_sohee, on Sun 21 Jun 4:18PM
  16. This move will find him out! He is NOT feared at all­ over there and will have no psychological advantage to­ carry him forward. When he has shed a few tears and­ chucked a few dummy's we shall see just what he is­ inside...especially since there are so many over there­ who ARE stars !!! Mark my words...he's good but­ George Best he ain't !!!!

    From Ray C, on Sun 21 Jun 4:13PM
  17. man utd is selling ronaldo and tevez, its like selling­ their soul for money,.. rooney , berbatov and who every­ they buy can't get the job done well.
    i see manutd­ going down next season.

    From ihuoma, on Sun 21 Jun 4:04PM
  18. good choice u think ur da best in da world but ur not­ there are more and much better players dan u so dnt­ think ur da best wach u play man u and were gonna eggu­ big time traitor and cheeetah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! in the­ spain la liga there are a huge amount of good players­ not jus u so ur population and fans and supporters are­ going down den ur gona wish u were bac at man u tough­ luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! any way u were holding­ man u bac we could have signed so many top world class­ players but ur so greedy 4 money. whatever u said on­ the news was wrong it was not a dream 2 wear the wite­ shirt it was all bout ur wages not the­ shirttttt!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    From Rupinder, on Sun 21 Jun 3:56PM
  19. #148, would that be a driving test or a­ "diving" test? The Galacticos, part II. This­ is only to bring the fans to the Bernabeu. This team­ has too many stars and not enough journeymen. Like the­ first Galacticos, they will crash again, out of too­ many competitions. The only trophy I could see them­ getting is the Copa del Rey. In la Liga, they will be­ outmatched, in the C. L. outscored. The­ "estrellas," once more,­ "estrellados"!!!

    From Carl D, on Sun 21 Jun 3:41PM
  20. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    2-0 2-0 2-0 2-0 2-0 2-0 2-0 2-0 2-0 2-0 2-0

    From barcelona_sure_kicked_your_arse, on Sun 21 Jun 3:33PM
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