Luiz Felipe Scolari insists Manchester United will not be able to prevent Cristiano Ronaldo from joining Real Madrid.
The out-going Portugal coach, who will take charge of United's Premier League title rivals Chelsea on 1st July, knows the talented winger well from their time together with the international side.
Ronaldo's career at Manchester United could be coming to an end this summer with Real Madrid eager to secure his services.
The Red Devils insist that their star player is not for sale and that they will not be listening to offers, but Scolari believes that once Ronaldo has made his mind up, he will not be persuaded to change it.
He told The People: "I know Cristiano well and I know the type of person he is so I have no doubts about how he will handle himself in the next few weeks.
"People must understand that Cristiano becomes stronger with all the difficulties and the stories about him. I have never known anyone so mentally strong.
"What happened to him at the World Cup in 2006 in the quarter-final against England would have crushed many other players - but not Cristiano.
"And what has been happening around him here with the uncertainty about his future has not affected him - I know that because I have been with him.
"He is so strong mentally and he is in control of his own destiny - and because of that Manchester United can do nothing to hurt him.
"It is his dream to play for Real Madrid and I am sure Cristiano will fulfil his dream whatever the difficulties."
And Scolari insists that all the speculation over Ronaldo's future had no impact on Portugal's exit from Euro 2008 in the quarter-finals against Germany.
He added: "Cristiano has been completely focused and if I had any doubts I wouldn't have put him in my 23 and given him an important role in the team. I trust him as an athlete and as a person.
"Ronaldo plays for the national team and defends the national team with a great will and that's what I like about him. The secret of Ronaldo is that he is simple, humble and he works for the group. He is a great team member and dedicated to the group.
"He has a special will to win that I have not seen in anyone else and the other players soak it in. He also has a special technical quality which everyone is aware of."
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Comment 1 - 9 of 9
why scolari is really sure that ronaldo will move to real madrid? and manchester united is ofcourse won't forced ronaldo to play for them, scolari is the one who forced ronaldo to move to real madrid. He even told ronaldo that it is ronaldo's only chance! oh please, i'm sure real madrid will always welcome him whenever he wants to play for them, even after 10 years. i bet scolari is afraid his team will have a big big lose if ronaldo stay at united, that's why he told ronaldo to move! but i hope ronaldo knows that manchester united is the best for him, united is the one who make him as famous as today, so pleaseeeee, ronaldo said he hates betrayal, so don't betray united then
I think ronaldo is a smart boy he knows when to desert a sinking ship which man u is. come on you blues,
Ronaldo is just one player in a great team. The money Utd would get for him would buy several world class players, especially some of those fancy Russians. There's no point hanging on to him if he doesn't want to stay. Utd should just cash in when he's at his peak. Real Madrid buy all the world class players but never win anything, a bit like Chelsea. There will be life after Ronaldo!
hahahahah, Man U thought they were a dream team. Ronaldo dreams go a lil'inch further than red and furg. Good luck Ronnie on your adventure at Real, we will ALL miss you (present company included).
Scolari should keep his big fat nose right out of Man u's business the steaming great F.a.n.n.y I am gonna enjoy it when Man U stuff it right up his jacksie next season, course he wants Ronnie rectum to move to R M . doh I wonder why......eeejjutt, keep it right out Scolari, you trouthead from hell.
the only reason that scolari thinks that ronaldo shud go to real madrid is becuse he scared wot he will do to his chelsea team....dosent matter if he goes..scolari will only be at chelski for a couple of weeks...
Pretty obvious here that fat Scolari is worried wiv ronaldo on our team he wont win nufin at chelsea an roman will get rid of him so by tellin him 2 go it makes it easier 4 him, or thats wot he thinks. Even if ronaldo goes we will just replace him.
I think Scolari will fit in just perfectly at Chelsea - Scum, he doesn't care what Ronaldo wants, he cares about having an easier run to the premier league.
Even as an Arsenal fan i would hate to see Ronaldo leave the Premier league. Without Ronaldo I think Man United would struggle to win the league...40 goals are hard to come by. I fear that unless Arsenal can spend and bring in more talented players Chelsea may dominate the league next season.
I would not blame Fergy if he decided to let Ronaldo rot on the bench.
Is he speaking as Portugal manager or as the Chelsea manager here, I would think as Chelsea manager he would much sooner face a Man U side minus Ronaldo than with him. What do you think?
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