RONALDO TO JOIN REAL FOR £80M

CHEER WE GO - Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates winning the 2009 Premier League trophy with mum Delores Avero

United accept world record bid from Spanish giants

RONALDO - on way to Real Madrid

NEMANJA VIDIC: I STAY

Serbian centre-half pledges his future to Old Trafford

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11/06/2009

MANCHESTER UNITED have accepted an £80million bid from Real Madrid for Portugal winger Cristiano Ronaldo.

Ronaldo has long been a target for the Spanish giants, whose president Florentino Perez vowed earlier this week to do "everything possible" to take the 24-year-old to the Bernabeu.

A statement on www.manutd.com this morning, under the headline 'Reds accept £80m Ronaldo bid', read: "Manchester United have received a world-record, unconditional offer of £80million for Cristiano Ronaldo from Real Madrid."

"At Cristiano's request - who has again expressed his desire to leave - and after discussion with the player's representatives, United have agreed to give Real Madrid permission to talk to the player.

"Matters are expected to be concluded by 30 June. The club will not comment until further notice."

The announcement comes barely two weeks after the Portuguese striker appeared to pledge his future to United, claiming he wanted to stay and make history at Old Trafford.

OFF YOU GO - Ronaldo (bottom left) shows his despleasure at being substituted against Manchester City, as boss Alex Ferguson (top right) looks on

Back then he said: "This is my home now. I think even when I say my heart is here, people are still going to speak and make things up. But this is where I want to play.

"We are part of an era that can go down in history for the way we are playing and for the trophies we are winning. The boss believes in this team and so do I. And this is where I want to be. Manchester United is now my house."

But two weeks is a long time in football and the election of Florentino Perez as Real president, plus the Spanish club's signing of Brazilian legend Kaka, have made Ronaldo think again.

The news is bound to be greeted with incredulity by United fans who have repeatedly been told no deal had been agreed for the sale of FIFA's world player of the year despite regular stories from Madrid that he would go this summer.

It has even been suggested Ronaldo is due a £20million compensation fee from Real if the deal does not go through by June 30, the date United now expect matters to be concluded.

As it now seems a matter of when, rather than if a world record transfer will be completed, Sir Alex Ferguson might wish to explain why he has gone back on his famous comment in December last year that he would not "sell that mob a virus".

It is the first time for many years United would have allowed a player to leave they were not happy about losing. But some supporters may be pleased that at least another drawn-out transfer saga, such as the one 12 months ago, is not played out in public.

And, at least the money could be reinvested in a squad that almost, but not quite proved good enough to win back-to-back Champions League trophies, in addition to a hat-trick of Premier League titles.

OUT YOU GO - Cristiano Ronaldo shows the pain of Champions League Final defeat to Barcelona

And, in reshaping a squad that looks almost certain to lose Carlos Tevez as well, Ferguson might be able to offer Wayne Rooney a more permanent central striking role and fulfil the promise he has shown on the international stage this season.

Bayern Munich's Franck Ribery is bound to crop up as a potential replacement, although the 27-year-old seems hugely overpriced at £40million, with Wigan's Antonio Valencia also in the frame.

The Ronaldo deal is boun to raise questions as to whether the current debt hanging over United of almost £700million has played any part in the decision to accept Real's huge bid.

While Ferguson has always backed the Glazer family for the backing he has received, supporters will now be interested to see whether their manager is handed all the funds received from Spain, plus an annual transfer kitty said to be around £25million.

With Edwin van der Sar, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Gary Neville all reaching the end of their careers, it promises to be a far more testing summer than Ferguson might have realised.

And, for all the petulance and pouting for which Ronaldo is so famed, filling the void created by the loss of his immense talent may prove difficult.

Your comments

This article has 21 comments

I for one am glad that the cheating moaning diving ronaldo has gone. He was nothing but a diver if touched with a feather, but if 2 or 3 fat utd players jumped on his back after he scored a goal he was able to keep standing without diving.
GOOD RIDDANCE

By bonnythescouser.. Posted June 13 2009 at 10:08 PM.

By selling Ronaldo to Real Madrid, Fergie has made himself look like a real fool after his famous statement that he wouldn't give that mob a virus. Well they have just proved once again that they are the biggest team in the world by waltzing in and buying the best player in the world from their biggest european rivals. This is the same manager who sold of our biggest assest in David Beckham to them also for 25 million because he was jealous of him and Real went on to earn a staggering 400 million from Beckham in merchandise sales. Now they expect to make over 100 million from rRonaldo merchandise sales in his first season, never mind what Kaka brings in. If I was a shareholder I would be pretty worried about this trend. Fergie needs to stand down, his time is up. He has proved it once again Man U are no where near the biggest team, real just proved it.

By Harry Morris.. Posted June 13 2009 at 10:03 PM.

no doubt man utd can survive this.
but the fact is tat there is really no such player tat can replace C.ronaldo!

80m is really too little!
can pele, maradona, best, gerrard, torres, messi etc....cross, dribble, score with his head and feet?? no 1 can do all tat...

sad to say C ronaldo has the ability to...

By jcb.. Posted June 13 2009 at 4:47 PM.

Saf pls buy ribery and sign teves permenently.let him go he wil regret leavin man utd.man utd 4 life

By Amina.. Posted June 13 2009 at 7:54 AM.

His fame has gotten into his head. Better he left because he was short of openly confronting the coach each time he was substituted. And he was sure a bad influence in the dressing room.

ManU and fans will surely miss his antics off and on the pitch.

By Emma Emeasoba.. Posted June 13 2009 at 3:13 AM.

Its about time this brat is shown the door out of Old Trafford !! No player is bigger than Man U and salute to Sir Alex for his actions. Someone should compile a video of this Ronaldo's disgusting actions on the pitch such as his dramatic diving, screaming in pain at the slightest touch, pointing fingers at his team mates for "bad" passes, gesturing to his team mates to run for the ball when actually he has mis-kicked it and his disrepectful horrendous body language towards Sir Alex when he was being substituted. I have a feeling that the Spainish defenders will be rubbing their hands in glee, each wanting to be the first one to welcome this Portuguese Peacock with their own signatory tackle. Ciao Peacock!

By Charles Lions.. Posted June 12 2009 at 10:07 PM.

Ribery not for 40 Million ...

By Skmitt.. Posted June 12 2009 at 7:23 PM.

80 million in the bag
plus 25 million the glazers will give us
selling
campbell for 6million
manucho for 3 million

Gives us 115 million

Buy

Ribery for 40 million
Benzema for 30 million
Valencia for 20 million
Tevez for 25 million

Total is 115 million

By Mac.. Posted June 12 2009 at 6:56 PM.

Let him go he'll regret ever leaving old traford,let him go with his arrogance in two years time he will be finished like micheal owen and van nistlerooy.

Man U for life.

By Bob.. Posted June 12 2009 at 5:12 PM.

Ronaldo is one of the "BIG THING" in football world nowadays. It such an excellent time when he turn to a true predator and slashed every ManU enemies in front. When he's in form, there is nothing on earth can stop him ever. Look at last season when he trashed more than 40 GOALs. Not even prolific forward can do that. So sad to hear him leaving United. BUT....
as a true Red Deviller, there is nobody bigger than the club itslef. We dont like Real, who like to build their squad relying on their money.They just know how to buy players, snatching them from other club. We PRODUCED players. Look at rafael and macheda. They flashed huge talents. Most af all, we dont buy them like Real do...they came from our academy...
Can't deny it so hard to replace Ronaldo.But put some trust to Fergie. He know what's great for the club. One fly....there are many more will come. So, good bye Ronnie.....(plus, the £80m was to good to say no).

By Romeno Suali.. Posted June 12 2009 at 4:35 AM.

i think this is great business for man utd.
80m quid is good money so let him go and am sure gill and fergie will now rebuild with some new blood and get a right balance for the team
sajan
kenya

By sajan.. Posted June 11 2009 at 6:56 PM.

this is to BD..

firstly Fergie is the greatest manager on earth. I dare you to contradict me. Secondly the Glazer Bros have 700 mil pounds debts. Big thing? Fergie gets an annual 25 mil pound kitty for buying! Kaka and Ronnie = very stupid combination. Real only have money. That is all. United have pure skill! We don't rely on buying new players! We make players. Take Ronaldo for example. In 2003 he was virtually unknown. United made him what he is today and after publicly stating: "United is now my home.." he just proves he is a liar. Good riddance! ....

Even after buying our own players, Real couldn't do anything! HAHAHA..Beckham and Nistelrooy are big examples! Fergie let them go and they went DOWNHILL! United is not a team made of arrogance, slefishness and certainly not egoistic behaviour well that's why Ronaldo is good riddance. Yes, he's helped United in several tight situations and we thank him for that but he was just too much for us! Anyway, 1 place free + 80 mil pounds = Ribery and Benzema! Woohoo! Rooney n Benzema up front just excites me!!

So..goodbye Ronny..but u made a huge mistake by leaving. "Viva Ronaldo" is a rubbish song.

This was from a fervent United supporter.

COme On United!! =p

By Slif.. Posted June 11 2009 at 6:27 PM.

Alpha1, I dont think you need to test his loyalty, he has always said it was his dream to "one day" play for Real Madrid, this is that day. Ronaldo will, in the not to distant future be unveiled as the world record signing for Real Madrid, it's not all bad though, Manchester United with an 80m+ kitty will be back, bigger and stronger.

By Patrizio Parbotelli.. Posted June 11 2009 at 4:34 PM.

ronaldo is the most dum player for moveing
watch him he is going to go down

By manu fan.. Posted June 11 2009 at 4:29 PM.

A good call SAF. I won't shed a tear for that egoist leaving. 80mil pounds is hell lot of money - Benzema and Ribery will be well worth less than that. The winker's heart was not with ManU for 08-09 and his performance testified to that! So good riddance!!

By MHisham.. Posted June 11 2009 at 3:31 PM.

now you can buy tevez

By patricio garcia.. Posted June 11 2009 at 1:39 PM.

Los Galacticos part 2 begins ! Kaka and Ronnie make a dream combination . My only question here - if Fregie uncle has such a good brain then why on EARTH do United have a 700 mill pound debt ? hehehehhehhhheheheh - As far as Madrid is concerned , the money will start rolling in ; 6 months there will be break even with all the Kaka' and Ronaldo jerseys ! United and Madrid are 2 great clubs , and this is football at its very best !

P.S : CR will have to forget his number 7 for some time atleast as this belongs to the "el site' : Raul the true Blanco !Kaka' will adorn the treasured number 5 - with a personal handover from the magician Zizou ! Dont tell me the world hates this drama ! This is what dreams are made of - live it ; support it ; GLORY DAYS are back - HALA MADRID !

By BD.. Posted June 11 2009 at 1:35 PM.

i think he has seen it all with us in united,the recent showdown between him and sir Alex is a pointer that he wants to go, and time has come for him to move on, as there is no need to keep a player who is fed up and ready to leave, i think such player will not play from his hearth, i wish him well in Madrid.

man united 4life

By kriss.. Posted June 11 2009 at 2:16 PM.

Its all up to the boy if he ever wants to leave his "home", Manchester United as he once said. He might turn down the offer, just like what Kaka did to Man City. This is the best time to test his loyalty to the club. Look at the likes of Van Nistlerooy & Owen, they were the premier league favourites before joining Real, but aftertat, little has been heard of them, of course Beckham being the exception coz he has built his reputation globally. Afterall, no man is an island! Think hard & good luck Ronnie!

By alpha1.. Posted June 11 2009 at 2:07 PM.

there is many more great players out there like ronaldo take messi he is a really good footballer great with his feet and the money we r gettin out of ronaldo we could get players like messi or other great players united arent jsta one man team we r a hole team.

By David Jones.. Posted June 11 2009 at 2:05 PM.

United have lost great players in the past and have always bounced back even better, for me its the best kind of business u can do. United paid £12m for him 6years ago, 1 FA cup, 2 carling cups, 3 premiership titles, 1 champions league title, 1 world club title, and on 11th of june 2009, united accept an £80 pound bid from Real Mardrid. " WHAT BETTER BUSINESS" is there. Trust Fergie, another great player is in the making.

By Oluyemisi Agbaje.. Posted June 11 2009 at 11:36 AM.

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