Football News: Ronaldo to Real Madrid

Ronaldo to Real Madrid: Unstoppable momentum grows

Cristiano Ronaldo's move to Real Madrid is gathering inevitable momentum with increasing reports in the media fuelling the circus around his move.

Latest reports have Scolari and Calderon urging him to 'be strong' and that Manchester United 'can't hurt him'! All silly season stuff really, and what's all been seen before as countless others have done what Ronaldo is now doing ie dig his heels in and force Manchester United to sell him to Real Madrid.

It's the sad but inevitable route many transfers take in modern football, and the Ronaldo to Real Madrid saga is no different. Just the money involved is bigger than ever before! Eighty million really is nuts!

Bernd Schuster has come out and said Real Madrid will do 'whatever it takes' to get Ronaldo from United. That appears to be an eight million transfer fee, and 182 grand a week! The interesting part will be if the Glasers become as relentless as Real Madrid and leave him in the stands. There was an interesting article in the Times the other day, where an employment lawyer basically said that a deal will get done as Real Madrid, Ronaldo and Manchester United will all realise that lawyers will be the only winners if it goes to court.

We at Footy Focus reckon it's a done deal. Ronaldo will move to Real Madrid, and Manchester United will get a stash of cash to replace the forty goals a season! It's a well worn path and Manchester United have time and again been in Real Madrids place. Thats life Fergie!

Football News: Ronaldo to force his way to Madrid?

Ronaldo to do 'all in his power' to move to Madrid

In a depressingly familiar tale of player power, reports are emerging that Cristiano Ronaldo is to do 'all in his power' to get his move from Manchester United to Real Madrid.

'Sources' also briefed in the media that Ronaldo considers Real Madrid a bigger club than Manchester United, and that he has never been enthused with life in Manchester.

Given Ronaldo signed a new, improved deal a little over 12 months ago, it all has the familiar depressing ring of contracts not being worth a carrot, as player power rules.

Manchester United will be further enraged that FIFA have cleared Real Madrid of any wrongdoing in their conduct and relentless pursuit of Ronaldo.

It seems the saga is beginning to play out to its inevitable end, and that Ronaldo will move to Madrid after the European Championships, much to the dismay of Manchester United and it's supporters. There is a slim chance the Glazers might do what they say, and stop Ronaldo's Madrid move, and let him 'rot in the stands'. Now that would be fascinating to see!!

Football News: Real want Ronaldo to strike

End-game becomes a farce as Real Madrid urge Ronaldo to go on strike

The Sun and Tribal Football are reporting that Real Madrid are urging Ronaldo to go on strike, to force Manchester United's hand over Ronaldo's proposed transfer.

Real Madrid president, Calderon is being quoted via second hand 'sources' that they want Ronaldo to go on strike at Manchester United until the transfer window closes on 31st August.

It's all becoming very nasty, sad and disappointing really. A lot is just newspapers filling the column inches, but there can be little doubt Real Madrid have turned Ronaldo's head, and both are now trying to engineer a move.

As we've said before, wouldn't it be great if just for once a club stood up to a player and let him either stick to his contract or as Ferguson put it, 'rot in the stands'. It would be fascinating if the Glazers and Manchester United really did refuse to buckle to Real Madrid and Ronaldo.

Whether Ronaldo moves to Real Madrid or not, its once again showing the money driven, dark side of football. We can only hope Manchester United back up their words with action. More power to their elbow we say!!

Ronaldo to Madrid: Looking a shoe-in

The mother of all moves edging closer as Ronaldo admits to wanting move to Madrid

Cristiano Ronaldo admitted yesterday (albeit on a Brazilian website), that he would like to move to Real Madrid. There was no word from Sir Alex Ferguson, though Manchester United's Chief Executive David Gill stated that "Our position on Ronaldo remains as set out last week," referring to Ferguson's insistence that the club would rather let the player rot in the reserves than do business with a club who, in their eyes, have brazenly flouted transfer rules and etiquette.

It all seems like its building up to be the mother of all transfer stoushes, probably ending in the mother of all transfers, with a world record fee of 78 million pounds securing Ronaldo's move to Madrid.

Manchester United and it's supporters will be hugely disappointed with Ronaldo, who it appears is determined to engineer the move to Madrid after only two outstanding seasons. However given his recent comments it can come as no surprise.

Overall the Premier League will be very interesting next season, and potentially there will not be a better time for a club to break into the top three or four. Arsenal have lost Flamini and Hleb, Chelsea look likely to lose Drogba and possibly Lampard, while Manchester United certainly look like losing 40 goals a season in Ronaldo.

Cristiano Ronaldo the best ever

Rooney sees Ronaldo as the best ever player in the Premiership

Manchester United ace Wayne Rooney has hailed teammate Cristiano Ronaldo as the Premiership's greatest ever player.

"He has not just been the best player of the last two seasons, he's the best player the Premier League has ever seen - and that's including Thierry Henry, Gianfranco Zola, Eric Cantona, Dennis Bergkamp and Alan Shearer.

"Cristiano is rightly talked about as the best player in the world. I was surprised he didn't get the world player award last season. He's got to get it this time."

It's hard to disagree with Wayne Rooney. Ronaldo is certainly above the players mentioned, with the possible exception of Thierry Henry, and it is most likely he will eclipse his achievements in the Premier League given time.

Footy Focus thinks Cristiano Ronaldo will eventually be looked back on in the same manner as George Best, that is a phenomenon if his time.

Ronaldo - Manchester United right for me

Ronaldo insists Manchester United is the place to be
With rumours that Real Madrid are prepared to obliterate the world record for him refusing to go away, Ronaldo's latest pledge of devotion will serve to ease some of the concerns of United fans the world over.

“At the moment I feel very good and feel I am at the right club,” he told the Friday Football Show. “I love these people, I love the football and at the moment I think it is the best football in the world.

“The stadium is full every game, and for me it has been fantastic. The fans have been fantastic too, and not just this year, but every year. They sing my song and I see it in their faces that they like to see me on the pitch and they like to see my tricks and passes.

“For me I feel comfortable here at the club.”

Ronaldo, who is reportedly in line for a new contract worth £150,000 a week, then had some words of appreciation for George Best, whose highest goal haul from a United winger he surpassed last month.

“I got the opportunity to see a few tapes of him last month,” Ronaldo added. “He was an unbelievable player – a great player, and to be compared to him is very good. I feel very proud of that.

“This has given me more motivation to work more.”

Premier League: Man United 4-0 Aston Villa, Ronaldo again

Manchester United cruising to the Premier League as Ronaldo the difference again

Cristiano Ronaldo was again the difference as Manchester United continued to cruise to the retaining of their Premier League title.

Ronaldo is also astonishingly now within striking distance of scoring over 40 goals in season, with his total now reaching 35. Only Denis Law and Ruud Van Nistelrooy have scored more in a season for Manchester United. Even Sir Alex Ferguson's best ever hall of 45 in a season is now in sight.

Ronaldo was on fire in this game, scoring one and creating three others as Aston Villa were brushed aside with consumate ease. Ronaldo's goal was simply astonishing, outstanding and very, very cheeky!

As Ryan Giggs’ corner rebounded off Wilfred Bouma to Ronaldo, the winger had the cheek to attempt a backheeled flick through Martin Laursen’s legs. Being Ronaldo, it worked! After that he turned provider, setting up Rooney (twice) and Tevez, as Villa folded.

Victory assured, Ferguson could afford to give Rio Ferdinand, Patrice Evra and Michael Carrick half an hour off. As United prepare for their Champions League clash with Roma on Tuesday, they sent a message to their title challengers. Over to you, Chelsea.

Man United's Ferguson: Ronaldo a phenomenon

Fergie salivates over his crown jewel Ronaldo as United go to Fulham

Manchester United's manager Sir Alex Ferguson has branded his Portguese star midfielder, Cristiano Ronaldo, a phenomenon for his incredible strike rate from a wide position.

Ronaldo needs just one more to reach 30 in all competitions and has already comfortably passed his previous best of 23 in the 2006/07 campaign. Manchester United go to Fulham on Saturday, and Ronaldo has scored seven times in his last five games against them. Few would bet against him adding to this tally as Manchester United continue their quest for the Premier League title.

You have to say for 12 million, Ronaldo has become a bargain. Liverpool had a deal lined up for 6 million at the time, but Manchester United came in and blew them out the water by offering 12 million. His value now would be off the scale and he is well on the way to becoming one of the games true greats.

Ronaldo out, Drobga in?

Ronaldo's absence opens door for Drogba move

AC Milan are ready to break the bank for Chelsea striker Didier Drogba to replace the injured Ronaldo.

Gazzetta dello Sport is reporting that Ronaldo’s knee injury has sparked Milan to urgently seek a new centre-forward for next season, and Chelsea's Drogba tops the list.

Drogba has continually talked of a move away from Chelsea, particularly to Barcelona, but that won’t put off Milan president Silvio Berlusconi, who is prepared to do whatever it takes to land Drogba from Chelsea.

Ronaldo underwent surgery in Paris on Thursday after rupturing tendons in his left knee during Wednesday's 1-1 draw against Livorno and is expected to be sidelined for up to a year.