Ronaldo - I reveal to the world my decis... Not so fast there, young man. - Fergie

[Tribune]

No, I'm stating that people who think that a South American or Iberian player would snub United simply because Ronaldo left are mindless. Sorry if that wasn't clear in my post.

Talking about missing the point. Let me give you an example : when Barcelona goes tough after a brazilian player, they will have a tough card up their sleeve in the fact that Romario, Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Ronaldinho played for them and achieved great things there.
When Real Madrid goes after the best player in the world, they will also have a tough card up their sleeve in the fact that the best players in the world like Figo, Zidane, Ronaldo (talking only about recent times) played there.

If Man Utd and Barca go after one brazilian player, the fact that 4 brazilian players became WPOY under their shirt is a factor which is going to be considered by the respective target. It already blew in your face in 2003. I don't know what the outcome will be because there are a lot of issues which can interfere, but if you think that the target is not going to look at who played for his suitors, how they did there and have a thought about it, then you are naive.

Second, I'm not talking only about "a south-american or iberian player". I'm talking about the best. Not about guys like Anderson or Nani or C.Ronaldo from 2003, who were relatively unknown and didn't draw too much attention - but about players whom you will have to fight tough battles in order to secure their signatures.

[O Fenômeno]

And it is annoying to see the disrespect his "close friends, and family" are showing to Man Utd lol....announcing "he will leave for madrid", and all that crap....either they really don't want him to play in England because the weather sucks and they won't be able to party at cristiano's house in rain..

OR

All the family quotes are MADE UP...

Ps..I respect your club.....dislike cristiano ;)

[Vermont Red]

Talking about missing the point.

I'm not missing your point, I'm disagreeing with it. To paint all players of a certain level or from a same region with the same brush is mindless.

I'd be surprised if any player believed that Ronaldo was moving for any reason other than to satisfy his own ego. How exactly will that have a negative impact in future negotiations?

[Tribune]

I'm not missing your point, I'm disagreeing with it. To paint all players of a certain level or from a same region with the same brush is mindless.

I'd be surprised if any player believed that Ronaldo was moving for any reason other than to satisfy his own ego. How exactly will that have a negative impact in future negotiations?

The reason why he is moving is completely irellevant. No offence, Vermont, but that starts to look like denial in order to defend the status of your club.
Second, I'm talking in the long term, not now or in a year or two.

If you think I'm biased, you could ask DS to explain briefly. I already did that as best I could, but apparently I didn't get my message across.

[Mighty_Mouse]

No, he hasn't.

That he is just entering a prime and is contemplating leaving is wrong.

You need to try and seperate yourself from the player for a moment and understand it from an actual supporter's perspective.

Yes he has. 5 years of entertainment and giving his all in training and matches. You've had him in his prime for the last two seasons and your statistical records and trophy cabinet will attest to that. How quickly you forget past contributions. As a club, United have already moved far ahead with Ronaldo's contributions. They are not on the cusp of being a great team, nor is Roanldo on the cusp of entering his prime as your post seems to suggest.

I'm a supporter of Man United of course but that does not supersede my interests as a student of the game. I feel it would be more interesting and beneficial for me to watch Ronado's progress in a different environment than for him to stay at United. The same applies for watching United cope with his loss next season. I favor him finding a way out of the club this summer but I will also be happy if he continues along the same path.

[Mighty_Mouse]

Imagine Ronaldo with the current physical gifts plus the nous that comes with experience.

He'd turn into Cruijff and start influencing his managers tactical decisions. 4-3-3, 3-4-3 anyone?

[Dark Savante]

Yes he has. 5 years of entertainment and giving his all in training and matches. You've had him in his prime for the last two seasons and your statistical records and trophy cabinet will attest to that. How quickly you forget past contributions. As a club, United have already moved far ahead with Ronaldo's contributions. They are not on the cusp of being a great team, nor is Roanldo on the cusp of entering his prime as your post seems to suggest.

I'm a supporter of Man United of course but that does not supersede my interests as a student of the game. I feel it would be more interesting and beneficial for me to watch Ronado's progress in a different environment than for him to stay at United. The same applies for watching United cope with his loss next season. I favor him finding a way out of the club this summer but I will also be happy if he continues along the same path.

'5 years of entertainment' according to whom? Do you think this is the consesus or your own view?

Our trophies have come about from team effort.

I don't think Ronaldo has even hit his prime yet. But this season is certainly an inkling to what he will become.

And finally, you are not a United supporter or even fan, are you? As a casual viewer of proceedings it matters not to you what happens to us so your comments can be flippant and disinterested in the fallout.

[Vermont Red]

The reason why he is moving is completely irellevant. No offence, Vermont, but that starts to look like denial in order to defend the status of your club.
Second, I'm talking in the long term, not now or in a year or two.

If you think I'm biased, you could ask DS to explain briefly. I already did that as best I could, but apparently I didn't get my message across.

I don't think I've accused you of being biased, but I apologize if I have. I also don't see where I've spoken about the status of the club, so I'm not sure where you're suggestion of denial comes in. I've also not said anything about short term or long term.

Just as there are players who will follow the lead of another, there are players who want to break the mold. Just as there are players who fail, there are ones who will succeed under similar circumstances.

I thank you for spending extra time with me in order to get your point across. I apologize for not understanding it clearly enough as apparently if I did then I would agree with you. I have sent a PM to DS to explain it to me.

[Tribune]

I don't think I've accused you of being biased, but I apologize if I have. I also don't see where I've spoken about the status of the club, so I'm not sure where you're suggestion of denial comes in. I've also not said anything about short term or long term.


Well, the point is that I believed that I was as clear as possible so you kinda lost me with your last comment. I haven't said that the tradition of having WPOY players (either from all around the world or just from SA and southern europe) in your ranks is the ultimate, one and only reason why a player picks a team, but the fact that it represents a significant factor in massively increasing the pull of a certain club, I don't see how can be denied.

For me, it was plain as day.




Just as there are players who will follow the lead of another, there are players who want to break the mold. Just as there are players who fail, there are ones who will succeed under similar circumstances.


Yes. This does not conflict at all with what I said. I'm talking about ability to attract players. Someone can choose Valencia over Real Madrid. That does not mean Valencia has a bigger pull than Real.


I thank you for spending extra time with me in order to get your point across. I apologize for not understanding it clearly enough as apparently if I did then I would agree with you. I have sent a PM to DS to explain it to me



Are you sarcastic by perchance ? :p

[Mighty_Mouse]

'5 years of entertainment' according to whom? Do you think this is the consesus or your own view?

Our trophies have come about from team effort.

I don't think Ronaldo has even hit his prime yet. But this season is certainly an inkling to what he will become.

And finally, you are not a United supporter or even fan, are you? As a casual viewer of proceedings it matters not to you what happens to us so your comments can be flippant and disinterested in the fallout.

It is the consensus. Ronaldo's influence has been quite significant in the team effort, especially over the last two seasons.

I've already stated I support United. Fortunately for me, I am not as ardent a supporter as you and can look beyond the club to the rest of the footballing world without contempt, even towards rival clubs. I hope that I can always maintain this level of objectivity because it makes moments like these easier to handle and it helps to defy the influence of money at the highest levels of the game. Man Utd or any other club will not buy my eternal loyalty as they have with countless other fans.

[GoodDead]

I don't see the need for United supporters to start actually hating the guy, although not to surprising since a wink seemed to have an even worse effect.

He's said in the past that one day he would like to play in Spain, fair enough a dream is a dream. But this year all I've really heard is, 'I'm staying in Manchester" and "I don't want to talk about it anymore". So for me I wouldn't start making light of Ronaldo and his contributions to the club as many have sadly started to do in preparation to cope with the loss of his services until the day he is in another uniform.

For the Record I want him to stay at United for at least 3 more years, there is not a better club in the world for him and for him to excel with.

[Vocalz]

I don't see the need for United supporters to start actually hating the guy, although not to surprising since a wink seemed to have an even worse effect.

He's said in the past that one day he would like to play in Spain, fair enough a dream is a dream. But this year all I've really heard is, 'I'm staying in Manchester" and "I don't want to talk about it anymore". So for me I wouldn't start making light of Ronaldo and his contributions to the club as many have sadly started to do in preparation to cope with the loss of his services until the day he is in another uniform.

For the Record I want him to stay at United for at least 3 more years, there is not a better club in the world for him and for him to excel with.

Cmon your being nice, he's being a bitch about even if at the very least pressured by his agent to be vague and make weird statements at minimum to push for a much higher pay grade at united if not to leave completely and go to RM.

Even in this day and age you can still have integrity and unfortunately he's shown none in recent time in regards to this situation.

[michael24710]

The way i see it is quite simple... the united fans supported him after the rest of england hated him from his antics... much like beckham after the sending off.... add to the fact the faith shown in him when many wrote him off as a one trick pony and i do believe he owes us some respect.... thats not to say he shouldnt be allowed to move, but the childish stringing us along as been outrageous.... when i heard him say 'i stay' after the Cl final i trusted him...

Looking at things there really is no reason to move.... his in a successful side, he is the man, everything is played to suit him, money can be matched, just in to a new contract, has many friends/portugese people involved in the club and the team is looking to improve....

I just cant understand how Real madrid can be seen as a bigger club at this point in time....

[GoodDead]

Cmon your being nice, he's being a bitch about even if at the very least pressured by his agent to be vague and make weird statements at minimum to push for a much higher pay grade at united if not to leave completely and go to RM.

Even in this day and age you can still have integrity and unfortunately he's shown none in recent time in regards to this situation.

After the Champions league final he stated Publicly that he is not leaving. Since then he has been vague while his agent does whatever behind the scenes with renegotiating his contract.

To me that is a pretty lame thing to do since it's obvious you want to stay and are going to stay and everyone involved knows you going to stay except for the supporters who take such actions to extremes.

He's made weird statements, how about because his English is still far from fluent. He's training with the National team for the Euro and says he doesn't want to talk about his contract. So immediately United supporters start bitching about the guy that contributed greatly to their success? I think a look in the mirror is in order for the "supporters" who start to hate the guy at the drop of a hat.

[Vermont Red]

I can't believe that anyone thinks that Ronaldo has been clear about his intention to stay at United. He has not been definitive on the subject even when he had the opportunity to do so.

[Chaz Striker]

I dont know if anyone has posted this.


http://www.skysports.com/video/0,20285,12606_3650978,00.html


Thought it was funny as hell as I watched it.

[johno]

Also, all this talk about the knock-on effects of Ronaldo leaving is silly. When a person on here talks about how players from certain parts of the world all dive and play act, that person is rounded on as being a xenophobe or racist. Yet its acceptable to characterize all Iberian and South American players as mindless, only basing decisions on what Ronaldo does.

You've taken it too far. The fact of the matter remains that Barcelona was once a hotbed for Dutch talent, Overmars, Davids, Kluivert, De Boer, Van Bronkhorst and Van Bommel have all played there in years gone by. Its no coincidence that with Rijkard at the helm they were more attractive to Dutch players especially given their history of having Dutch players. They are also a hotbed for Brazilian talent - having excellent players from a country or a region at one team enhances the profile of that team in the country those players are from.

Sunderland will join Manchester United as a favourite club of T&T players because Yorke and Jones have starred at those clubs making them preferred destinations for T&T and possibly even other Caribbean internationals. That's common sense and is a well established fact.

I don't know why one can't talk about Ronaldo's character with regards to this saga and not be thought of questioning his role for the club...

He's replaceable. There are talented wingers out there like some mentioned already who can come in and provide us with similar impact and perhaps even have a more positive effect on the rest of the team and we'll see a shift or spread in goals throughout our attack. Ribery for example would link up perfectly with Rooney and an Anelka for example.

This is why its taken with a grain of salt... saying you recognise his role and then say there'll be players out there we can get who can have a better impact than Ronaldo? We cannot even buy a CF who will have the goals Ronaldo's had these past 2 years much less a player who can have his impact. Unless you're one of those who thinks he's not been important, he's just scored the odd goal here and there, 20 against Newcastle, 5 against Spurs and the rest against Derby.

And if he leaves will you think this is the case?

Are you suggesting a mercenary can have no friends whilst on a 'mission' ? I'm obviously being a wee bit hyperbolic, but there is no point mentioning what you have if he's off now he has a bit of true, worldwide shine. This is supposed to be his time to prove his loyalty - now that he is the hottest commodity on the market!



I haven't made one single 'excuse' for him, I haven't even elaborated on the point to get to a level where excuses could be inserted.

I just said Ronaldo being handed the offensive end isn't such a bad thing. But if he now ********s off instead of consolidating his game within this plan, it's been a kick in the teeth.


I'm not going into detail DS, you're created a tangent of your own and looping.

First you said Ronaldo was given the team to the detriment of Rooney. I responded that he has "taken" the team because of his excellent play - you seem to think that's fair but now you say its a kick in the teeth because he wants to move on after he was given the team?

I dunno, Ronaldo didn't ask for the team - he didn't make any demands, his play has justified his role. That he might want to leave after spending 5 years in England, winning an FA Cup, a Carling Cup, a CL title and 2 league titles isn't amazing to me. He's always maintained that he wanted to play in Spain - or have you not been listening. You seem to think he owes United something. Shit, didn't Fergie owe Stam a chance to apologize? Didn't Beckham deserve something other than a boot to the face after his years of service? How about Keano? Ruud? No? None of them were deserving of anything other than what they got right? Its a one way street.

Players should bleed for the club and as soon as they step out of line and or the management feels they can be replaced by a better player they're out on their asses. In that situation the club owes them nothing. A player on the other hand, who helped United to 4 titles that it reasonably could be said might not have been won without him who may have decided he's had enough of England is a mercenary and a villain? Listen to yourself man.

Why when Cristiano is involved must it be polemic?

Unless you are more objective and truthful in your feelings I won't continue this debate - you are better than this man. I'm almost loling at how many people think its just snap your fingers and replace Ronaldo. FFS how many of you prayed he'd not get injured this year?

I can't believe that anyone thinks that Ronaldo has been clear about his intention to stay at United. He has not been definitive on the subject even when he had the opportunity to do so.

Wrong, what he's not been definitive on is whether he wants to move or where he'd like to play (specific team). Ronaldo has said he's happy and he wishes to stay at United, "but you never know." To me its obvious the but you never know is just for negotiation. Unlike what some are saying, Ronaldo hasn't come out and said he will make a decision in 2 days or anything like that. He said he's happy to be at United and that there should be news in 2 or 3 days. That could mean anything, a contract extention, highlights in his hair or perhaps a decision to retire and join the coaching staff. ;)

[GoodDead]

I can't believe that anyone thinks that Ronaldo has been clear about his intention to stay at United. He has not been definitive on the subject even when he had the opportunity to do so.


No, No, No I am going to stay

sounds definitive to me.

[SirManchester]

This is why its taken with a grain of salt... saying you recognise his role and then say there'll be players out there we can get who can have a better impact than Ronaldo? We cannot even buy a CF who will have the goals Ronaldo's had these past 2 years much less a player who can have his impact. Unless you're one of those who thinks he's not been important, he's just scored the odd goal here and there, 20 against Newcastle, 5 against Spurs and the rest against Derby.


I'm just not in the camp that thinks it'll be a disaster if we lose him or we'll suddenly slip into obscurity. He's been influential for various reasons but the main one is the goals he's provided for us when out strikers didn't have it in them to score, when our #9 was out most of the time, and when we didn't even pursue to buy a proper replacement. These things won't be a constant for much longer. Tevez and Rooney will get their scoring boots back, we will eventually resolve our #9 issue and subsequently Rooney and Tevez will play in roles that will benefit them more, and with a talented winger, whether that's Ribery or someone else capable, we'll have no problem scoring.

The only way we'll be in trouble is if he leaves and none of those issues are addressed. Our managment isn't that incompetent, especially that we have more pull now than ever before and simply because the team doesn't revolve around Ronaldo.

[433tom]

A friend mentioned the other day that he heard Nike would push Barcelona to bid on Ronaldo as Nike don't want him to go to Adidas sponsired Real Madrid.
He said Nike would sweeten their sponsorship deals with both Barca and Ronaldo to make it happen (if he does decide he wants to go to Spain). We didn't have much time to talk more about it, but this story in the Telegraph has got me thinking he might have been on to something. It makes sense when you think about it. Will it be the big multi-national corporations that ultimately determine where Ronaldo plays?

Everybody loves to argue over which club could outbid who. But in reality, the financial resources of any football club are just a drop in the bucket when compared to a company like Nike.

Here are some quick figures from Forbes for the last year:

Sales $17.9222 bil
Profits $1.8308 bil
Assets $11.7882 bil

Perhaps the real question is,,, How much is Ronaldo worth in marketing to Nike?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2008/06/04/ufnronaldo204.xml