It would be unlike Lewis to print something without a grain of truth to it, so while preposterous, you have to say it's a possibility. Unless Djorkaeff was April fooling him or something. annnnddd..... http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/writers/grant_wahl/08/02/rankings/index.html Ronaldo loves America. We know this because he told us during a 30-minute-long sit-down during Real Madrid's trip to L.A.: "I have a contract with Real Madrid through 2008, and I would like to come play in the U.S. league after that. It's a league that is growing a lot, and for me the quality of life would be spectacular here." But Ronaldo, I said, entire teams here make only $2 million a year -- one-quarter of your salary. "I played many years in my life without earning a thing. I play soccer because it's my passion," he said. "Clearly now I'm a professional, and I make money to do it. But I play when I'm here on vacation and when I'm with my friends -- all without earning anything. I have the desire to live here in the U.S., and it would be ideal to play here for a year or two." His choices? "Los Angeles, New York or Miami." Forgot to ask him if he wanted to start a new team in South Florida as MLS' first player-owner. ...
OF course he will stay, he's the best scorer, Raul has done nothing, he still manages to score 20 goals per year... And you think he's gonan quit the high European soccer to playn in... MLS ??? Are you crazy, how many player in this world are good enough to score 20+ goals per year ? and suddendly decide to play in small weak league at 29 ???? Hey we are talking about a 29 year old player, not a 35 year old guy... Some people have any sense of reality... Many italian, english or even french teams would love to buy him ... NOWAY Ronaldo would sign for MLS in the next 4 years...
Glazerr, Berlusconi and Moratti say they want him (and i don't talk about all the other brazilian or Argentinian teams that would love to have him) This guy has the possibilty to play in Europe for many years and win a lot of titles...
He has the possibility-- the question is. Does he have the interest? Why can't you accept the fact that he may just want to go to America for the sake of .... living in america? Again, Ronaldo has nothing to prove. Especially if he performs well and wins the WC this summer.
First of all you are not Ronaldo... Second thing when you ask me what else do I have to accomplish?HE HAS NEVER WON THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE !!! THAT'S WHY HE WENT TO REAL MADRID AND THAT'S WHY HE WANTS TO STAY IN EUROPE, TO WIN THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE !!! This is the greatest clubs competition in the world, this is the last title he has never won, and HE WANTS IT !!!!!! You talk like its career is over at 29 ?? WTF ?? You have a guy like Maldini who still play at 38 at very high level, you have Zidane still plays at 34... And even if he plays in MLS I don't see how he will get the adulation and the praise he get in Europe, USA is not a soccer country ... HE will never be traited like a superstar like Peyton MAnning or Kobe Bryant... Just look Youri Djorkaeff,who cares about him ??? Talking about quality of life is stupid, if the quality was so great all the best players would come play in MLS...
ALL the best players have the possibility to play in MLS, but how many of them want to play in MLS if they can still play in the best european clubs ??? HE has never won the Champions league, this is his last big title that still misses in his career... Why should he has to play in MLS ??? There's no interest... What's next ??? Shaquille O Neal in France, he has nothing to prove...
BTW: Those who think that perhaps the transfer fee that RM would want if the deal was to be done before his contract with them runs it course would be the deal breaker that prevents him coming... Well while it may make sense to say Red Bul may just not want to pay that sum on their own there is a real chance that potential sponsors, beyond Red Bull would get involved in the deal with each pitching in a portion... This is what was done on a smaller scale in the Hong deal for LA... Sponsors made that deal happen as they could with this.. I'm not saying it will or won't happen or that sponsors will get involved but just pointing out that very real possibility to those who say the price is just too high..
Did Pele win a Champions League? Did Pele have any interest in winning the Champions League? Did his stock go down because he decided to play in NY instead of Europe? How about Eusebio? The list goes on and on.... Don't generalize and assume that the priority of every star soccer player is to win the Champions League.
Hey krayzie, would you mind posting the links to those articles where Shaq has said he would like to play in France? Thanks in advance. What? He never said that? Hm. Then your analogy is - how you say? - merde. See, the Ronaldo-to-MLS talk is not coming from out of nowhere. It's coming from his own comments about wanting to play in America. So if you have a problem with Ronaldo coming to MLS, maybe the person you should take it up with is Ronaldo. And, by the way, it's MLS, or should I say, SWL (Small Weak League), that produced a WC quarterfinalist in 2002. That's more than I can say about le Championnat.
Sadly the club he plays for wants him gone. He may wanted to win the Champions League, but right now Real Madrid wants him no where with the club. If he wants to make his name in another continent besides Europe and South America, then he wants to come over to the USA. He wants to come to NY and follow the footsteps of Pele. You know what talk to Ronaldo since he is the one that has said he wants to be here. You know it's not a shame or a sin for one of the best players in global football to make a name here in the USA. But then again for you it must be.
This quote's Alexi Lalas as saying, "It's long term thinking." Also, if you need tickets for this weekend's match you may be interested in this giveaway
Good point. Another point is that Madrid might reduce the transfer amount but put in a protocol. By which if Ronalod leaves to another league, Madrid gets a cut in the transfer fee.
If it's truly 'long term thinking' as Lalas suggests, it makes the most sense that he would come as a free after his contract is up at RM. Of course, that assumes RM come to their senses and keep Ronaldo around all the way until the end.
Did Ronaldo said that he wanted to win the Champions league ?? YES YOU GENERALIZE ... NOT ME NOW YOU SAY THAT THE PRIORITY OF WORLD CLASS PLAYERS DON'T WANT TO WIN THE CHAMPIONS ?? WTF YEP, THEY PROBABLY PREFER TO PLAY IN MLS TO WIN THE WIN THE MLS CUP... :rolleyes THIS IS THE BIGGEST COMPETITION IN THE WORLD... ALL THE BEST WAHNT TO WINTHIS COMPETITION SO BAD... DID YOU KNOW THAT WHY RONALDO DECIDED TO LEFT INTER ?? BECAUSE HE THOUGHT HE COULD WIN THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUEWITH REAL MADRID... I don't see how this guy would suddendly think, "Ok, I'm 29, I don't care about winning the champions league, I prefer playing in MLS..."
He may see it as a chance to get away from the pressures OUTSIDE the game, but still play. He may see it as a respite for a season or two, before returning to action in Europe. Who knows? Sometimes a person just needs to get away from what has become routine. It isn't a matter of all the best players coming to MLS, but of certain players who see it as an option at a certain point in their career. It has to do with the fact that we are all different, with our own needs and desires.
Good point, just like Michael Owen left Liverpool to join Madrid because he thought he could win the Champions League with them. Oh yeah, which team won the Champions League last year? Oh yeah, Micheal Owen is now with Newcastle United, not exactly a Liverpool or Real Madrid caliber team huh? It is about being happy, he has made a lot of money.
Who says that the club he plays for wants him gone ?? Ronaldo complained about the critics few weeks ago, it happens everywhere... Since then he scored 4 goals in 4 games and played a terrific game against Barcelona... Maybe he wants to play in USA, but NOWAY in a short term, he has a lot of things to do in Europe... STOP DREAMING Maybe after 2010
Pressures ?? Hey, we are talking about a guy who plays for super clubs for 12 years now, he played for PSV, then BArcelona then Inter, then Real Madrid, and for Brazil national team !!!!!!!! World class players love pressure, don't make me believe that at 29, he's scared of pressure after all he has done ... World class players and most importantly forwards live with that everyday... But I don't see how Ronaldo would waste his last 3 or 4 good years in MLS... He's only 29 ... It would be great for MLS if they can get all the 29 year-old-worldclass players, but it's just impossible... sorry
Yes he did say he wants to win the champions league along with everyone else that plays. who doesn't want to win. He also said "to have and to hold until death do us part" but obviously that didn't work out either so it's time to move on and look for something that will make him happy. This could all be just a huge rumor or it could be true, the only person that can answer all of this isn't on here. We are going based on conversations between him and youri. So you can YELL all you want and try to make points that have nothing to do with the topic, but you really don't have anything to back it up. We have actual statements that he has shown interest in the league. Seacrest OUT!
Screw Europe and the Champions League, MLS is going to RULE THE WORLD!!! (ducks under a small table and waits for an explosion). Guys, its really a lifestyle issue. WHY NOT?!?!? I was kidding about MLS ruling the world... but it could one day, maybe... if we buy Ronaldo... hee hee!
I gave up on believing player rumors years ago. When I see Ronaldo in a Red Bull uniform lined up for the playing of the Star Spangled Banner, then I'll believe it.
No way Ronaldo gets signed and I really don't want him. More big money for a washed up fatso. I'd like to see some cash splashed for a more up and coming player.