Transfers - Gossip Shop: Ain't too proud to beg

Eurosport - Thu, 23 Oct 07:17:00 2008

After confidently claiming that he was set to join Manchester City at the end of last season, poor old Ronaldo has now stooped to begging for a chance to prove himself at Eastlands.

FOOTBALL 2008 Luís Nazário de Lima Ronaldo - 0

The 32-year-old Brazilian is a free agent after leaving Milan and is still recovering from a serious knee injury.

City were initially keen on acquiring his services, but the bar was raised somewhat higher when the Abu Dhabi Group took over on transfer deadline day.

Within hours they had signed fellow Brazilian Robinho for a British transfer record fee and Ronaldo was old news.

"I've been approached by many clubs and if City make their offer again I'd consider it," the former Barcelona, Real Madrid and Internazionale striker said. "I'm strong and I believe that in one or two months I will be playing at 100 per cent."

One man who says he will not be going to Manchester City is Fenerbahce and Spain striker Dani Guiza.

The 28-year-old recently spoke of his unhappiness in Istanbul but scored three goals in his last two matches and categorically denied that he is angling for a move to City, blaming a former agent for the rumours.

"Not once have I spoken with this club," Guiza said. "I am very happy at Fenerbahce and I have no interest in leaving.

"At this moment I have no relation with my former agent Felix Moneo. He is not authorised to negotiate with another club in my name."

Being flavour of the month can have its long-term benefits, if that month is close to the infamous January transfer window and your name is Emile Heskey.

Wigan and England striker Heskey has been credited with the great fortune of his strike partners for club and country.

The fact that Amr Zaki and Wayne Rooney are top-quality players has been viewed as largely irrelevant as the former Leicester, Birmingham and Liverpool target-man angles for one final pay-day.

His current contract expires in the summer and boss Steve Bruce is eager for him to commit to a new deal or leave for a fee in January.

But, according to the Daily Mirror, Heskey is holding firm and will wait for a summer payday that "reflects his status as an international" (that would be £80,000 a week and a bumper signing-on fee).

Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool, Aston Villa and Panathinaikos take note, while water-carriers the world over sack their agents and wonder what could have been.

Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill arguably made Heskey as a Leicester youngster, but in case that reunion fails to materialise Blackburn hit-man Roque Santa Cruz is tipped for a move to the Midlands.

O'Neill will offer Marlon Harewood and around £15m for the Paraguayan, who he tried and failed to sign in the summer (Daily Mirror again).

GS is not entirely sure whether Blackburn Rovers winger Morten Gamst Pedersen - who was regarded to be one of the most exciting players in the league until Paul Ince took over - has actually fallen from grace or whether the tough-talking Ince just doesn't fancy his flamboyant style and boy-band looks.

Either way, the Norwegian has been out of the team recently and The Sun has stirred things up by claiming that Ince has told him to stop whining and fight for his place.

Everton, Villa and a Martin Petrov-less Manchester City prick up their ears.

Premier League clubs including Everton and Middlesbrough have also been tipped to swoop for Ghana striker Matthew Amoah, although his record over the years does not hint that he would be up to the job.

"Who is not looking to play in the Premier League," the NAC Breda man told SkySports.

"All top players want to move to England - it is the best.

"I am waiting to hear from my agent but I know there have been enquiries from two clubs, but they have to agree a price with my club."

Amoah, 27, has a decent scoring record in the Netherlands including a run of 10 goals in 10 games this season. But the two years he spent at Dortmund in Germany yielded no goals in 17 matches, and his international record is almost as weak as Heskey's.

Barnsley's interest in loaning Bolton forward Ricardo Vaz Te has ended after it emerged the player had a knee injury.

"We have to try different things but people are mistaken if they think there's a Michael Owen out there just waiting to come on loan", under-pressure Tykes boss Simon Davey said.

Given Owen's inability to stay fit for more than a month, Barnsley fans will hope he's right.

Reda Maher / Eurosport

Comment 4 - 23 of 23

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  1. ronaldo is the best

    From Lewis, on Fri 6 Feb 8:04AM

  2. fak

    From Nath, on Wed 24 Dec 8:41AM

  3. willoco_59 - always nice to encounter some red @#$%­ with nothing better to do than go on other teams­ webpages.
    Try getting a life,or failing that,don't­ you have a tragedy that needs milking?
    Get back on the­ manure site you sad fool- the grown-ups are talking­ now.

    From steve, on Fri 24 Oct 10:23AM

  4. would ronaldo have wanted to go to man city 10years ago­ ??? nahhhhh now he is finnished he thinks he can still­ remain top flight @ the end of the day he is only­ after wonga 4 sniff

    From mcpluker, on Fri 24 Oct 8:52AM

  5. "old" ronaldo need to be at a bigger club­ than STOCKPORT CAMELS, HELLO little dreamers keep­ dreaming of glory because you will never see it

    From fluffy.bits, on Thu 23 Oct 6:05PM

  6. ronaldo is too old to shine on the big stage now

    how­ old is he exactly???

    mid 30s i think ?????

    robinho­ is class at man city but i see him leaving them in the­ near future to come. lol

    yep amr zaki is world class­ he has everything speed agilty you name it

    From Stephen, on Thu 23 Oct 11:10AM

  7. stuartxland u must be a cricket fan ya @#$%,ps learn to­ spell u @#$%!!!!!paddy the mag

    From paddy, on Wed 22 Oct 9:28PM

  8. Spurs could do with Ronaldo, show everyone there how to­ hold up the ball and score again !!! We'd get the­ bionic knees ready - same ones he can swap with king­ when he's not playing... grief ...

    From ispurs, on Wed 22 Oct 4:40PM

  9. ZAKI is the best

    From Wigan Man, on Wed 22 Oct 4:23PM

  10. ZAKI is the best

    From Wigan Man, on Wed 22 Oct 4:21PM

  11. A great player no doubt, but has long past his best the­ idea that any premier club would want him is hilarious,­ they would have to be really stupid,badly managed and­ determined to make themselves a laughing­ stock.....hmmm...maybe spurs or newcastle­ then?.....play up athletico....!

    From stuartxland, on Wed 22 Oct 4:10PM

  12. Eastlands getting the original Ronaldo would prove only­ one thing Man City is a comedy club ;-)

    I think­ Ronaldo looked far less comedy without the hair far­ better than potato head Rooney anyway :-)

    From art_tidesco, on Wed 22 Oct 4:01PM

  13. ronaldo would add experience and assuredness to many­ premiership teams city have seven or eight forwards­ though and would have to get rid of some

    From tony0ldbury, on Wed 22 Oct 3:54PM

  14. This guy was great make no mistake but not many keep it­ up over 30 although it was good to hear that Del Piero­ is still doing it . Ronaldo was never a diver or a­ poser like the current one and should retire gracefully­ and rest up the old legs as arthritis will be upon him­ in no time

    From taff, on Wed 22 Oct 3:44PM

  15. Think you all forget how good Ronaldo was! He could­ still play in the premier league at ease! and you­ really should learn how to spell!!

    From Ben, on Wed 22 Oct 2:57PM

  16. "I am waiting to here from my agent but.." -­ should be hear?

    From larry_790921, on Wed 22 Oct 2:49PM

  17. ironic is it not ?

    From , on Wed 22 Oct 1:52PM

  18. ronaldo fit? please...

    From chip l, on Wed 22 Oct 1:42PM

  19. yours friends are lying, knowone is that nice

    From mattymogo, on Wed 22 Oct 1:37PM

  20. The Gossip Shop comments page. You'll never find a­ more wretched hive of scum and villainy.

    From Dave, on Wed 22 Oct 1:34PM
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