Ronaldo off to Spain....

Barcelona to join race for Cristiano Ronaldo

Manchester United could be forced to repel the advances of Spain's two biggest clubs in the battle to hold onto Cristiano Ronaldo with Barcelona preparing to rival Real Madrid in the race to sign the Portuguese forward.

Ronaldo, currently preparing for Portugal's Euro 2008 opener against Turkey on Saturday, has been at the centre of a tug-of-war between United and Real in recent weeks, with the Spanish champions making no secret of their desire to tempt the 23-year-old from Old Trafford.

But boardroom tensions at Barcelona could result in the Catalan giants fighting it out with Real for Ronaldo if the club's former vice-president, Sandro Rosell, succeeds in his bid to unseat the president, Joan Laporta, in a vote of confidence amongst Barca's members.

Laporta and Rosell worked together to win the presidency in 2003 and the two men drove the club's ultimately unsuccessful attempts to sign David Beckham from United, who accepted a £25m bid from Barca before selling the midfielder to Real.

Rosell and Laporta went on to split acrimoniously, but reports in Spain suggest that Rosell, a former Nike executive, is planning to spark a battle for the Barcelona presidency this summer, with an audacious plan to sign Ronaldo central to his bid.

With Ronaldo positioned as their flagship footballer, it is understood that Nike would prefer him to move to Barcelona rather than adidas-sponsored Real, should he leave United.

Real president Ramon Calderon once again admitted today that their attempts to sign Ronaldo were unlikely to be successful unless United change their stance.

He said: "The signing of Cristiano Ronaldo is impossible. We cannot do anything about it because his club do not wish to sell.

"We do not want to force the issue because that is not the policy of Real Madrid when dealing with any club, especially not one that we consider a friend."

United chief executive David Gill remained insistent, however, that Ronaldo will not be leaving Old Trafford this summer.

Gill said: "Our position is clear. Both myself and Sir Alex Ferguson stated it last week and that is all we have to say on the matter. Full stop."

Barcelona's move comes after reports today that Cristiano Ronaldo has told his agent, Jorge Mendes, that he wants to leave United to fulfil his "dream" of playing for Real Madrid.

The Portugal international's wishes have been made clear to the Spanish giants who will offer him a deal worth £150,000 per week after tax, a contract that he feels is too good to refuse.

As well as fulfilling his financial demands, he has informed his closest advisers that the chance of playing at the Bernabeu is one he does not want to miss out on.

On Saturday, the double Footballer of the Year said that he would announce his decision regarding his one-off move to Madrid "in two or three days", however, it is now believed he will not talk to the world's media before Friday at the earliest.

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is said to be furious about this latest development, but until the player comes out publicly to deny he wants to leave Old Trafford, which he has repeatedly refused to do, the speculation will continue, with the feeling growing that he does after all wish to depart the Premier League and European champions for pastures new.

It is believed that his compatriot Mendes and Real Madrid have been working on a strategy to overcome United's present resistance.

However, seeing how the latter have already threatened to report their Spanish counterparts to football's world governing body, Fifa, and Ferguson has revealed the Glazer family would rather let the player rot in the reserves than sell him to their rivals, that may well prove problematical.

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

Jaime wrote:"(Ronaldo) is an impossible signing because his club don't want to sell him. We can't do anything if the club that owns him don't want to sell. We would never (approach a player under contract) as this is not the policy of Real Madrid, and especially not with a club who we are such good friends with."

Calderon

Glennrik Larsson wrote:I wont believe it til it's confirmed by NY-Miami

Afellay wrote:Where is Marca HQ, time to send in the Apache helicopters.

Cesc Soler wrote:Barcelona to join race for Cristiano Ronaldo

Afellay wrote:Well after today’s ‘bogus revelation’ we still don’t know where Ronaldo stands, he ‘supposedly’ wants out only if the deal benefits Manchester United. It’s down to SAF and the club now, no one is bigger than the club if he seriously wants out it’s a shame he has tarnished his growing reputation. But I still believe he is holding out for an improved deal if he’s to stay, which I think is the case.

L.r.d wrote:If he planned to stay all along, all this fucking about has only lost him a lot of respect many fans had for him. Really made no sense to do what he has. Even if his plan was to leave next year, why not just say that then not drag it out now.

L.r.d wrote:

Afellay wrote:Well after today’s ‘bogus revelation’ we still don’t know where Ronaldo stands, he ‘supposedly’ wants out only if the deal benefits Manchester United. It’s down to SAF and the club now, no one is bigger than the club if he seriously wants out it’s a shame he has tarnished his growing reputation. But I still believe he is holding out for an improved deal if he’s to stay, which I think is the case.

For his actions he doesn't deserve a new contract. Im sure he will play amazing again if he stays no matter what, so i hope he does still. But it wont be the same at least not at first. Now he's basically on loan at Man Utd until he joins Real Madrid

Afellay wrote:

L.r.d wrote:

Afellay wrote:Well after today’s ‘bogus revelation’ we still don’t know where Ronaldo stands, he ‘supposedly’ wants out only if the deal benefits Manchester United. It’s down to SAF and the club now, no one is bigger than the club if he seriously wants out it’s a shame he has tarnished his growing reputation. But I still believe he is holding out for an improved deal if he’s to stay, which I think is the case.

For his actions he doesn't deserve a new contract. Im sure he will play amazing again if he stays no matter what, so i hope he does still. But it wont be the same at least not at first. Now he's basically on loan at Man Utd until he joins Real Madrid

He still has 5 years left on his contract (I believe) he probably just want improved wages, now he is the de facto best player in the World, he is a wanted man .. for one other club. It’s understandable and acceptable that he would like to play for Real Madrid, but what’s frustrating is when he and the team have moved into a new phase probably a phase of domination he ‘seems’ to want out, today’s quotes I’m sure are fabricated as the source is unreliable, it’s going to be a long wait till he reveals his short term future.

Like I’ve said it’s down to what SAF wants and from what I’ve read and heard he doesn’t want Ronaldo out.