CRISTIANO RONALDO EXCLUSIVE
But I don't regret that World Cup quarter-final wink
DURING six years in Manchester, Cristiano Ronaldo's English became almost fluent ... but he still can't bring himself to say sorry.
Almost, but not quite.Sorry for disrespecting a team-mate, sorry for revelling in the misery of a man he now lists as a 'good friend'.
Cristiano Ronaldo: I decided to quit United a year ago - Click here for the full story
Cristiano Ronaldo: Fans' hate made me stronger - Click here for the full story
Cristiano Ronaldo - click here for his United career in pictures
But if it's any consolation, he admits he should not have acted in the way he did on that fateful night in Gelsenkirchen, that Wayne Rooney can challenge him for the title of best player on the planet and that the England striker can lead his country to World Cup success next summer.
Ronaldo has never spoken of the wink that enraged a nation. Until now. And while he stops short of an apology, Ronaldo finally accepts that his behaviour during that World Cup quarter-final three years ago was unacceptable.
He says: "Sometimes you do things because emotions are running high but Wayne is my good friend. I can't regret it because I think the whole experience made me stronger. But looking back it was not the right thing to do and not something I would do any more."
Yet Ronaldo believes the fall-out and furore that followed his flagrant show of sneakiness turned out to be the defining period of his career with Manchester United.
He explains: "I have done a lot of growing up since then. And when I came back from the World Cup I made the journey from a boy to a man. Coming back from the World Cup in 2006 was very hard but ultimately it was a good thing.
"The boss said the experience could make me stronger if I handled it in the right way. And the outcome of that prediction goes to show why you don't question Sir Alex Ferguson."
There are some inside Old Trafford who believe that Ronaldo's relationship with Rooney was never the same after that cynical cameo in Germany.
But irresepective of their personal connection, Ronaldo maintains he is leaving behind a player who is destined to join him on the top table of footballing greats.
He says: "Without a doubt, he can become the best player in the world. There are lots of players who are a delight to watch but how many make it look as easy as him?
"We had a great relationship and that is the sort of quality of player you want to be playing with. In training, he can volley a ball from 30 yards away and miss your head by one inch every time.
"It might not sound a big thing but that is how accurate he is all the time. He will be one of the world's best for many years. The natural talent is there but he cares as well and will never give up."
And, ironically - considering his part in the fate of the United striker at the last tournament - Ronaldo believes a fit and healthy Rooney can help finally end England's World Cup anguish.
He says: "When you have players like Rio, Wayne, Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard, you always have a chance. Are England the favourites? No. Spain are. But there will be six or seven other teams that think they can win the World Cup and England are one of them.
"So much of England's success is down to Wayne Rooney though. He is your special player and if he shines in South Africa then you have every chance."
And while rumours of Rooney and senior players growing disaffected with Ronaldo's behaviour continue to bubble under the Old Trafford surface, Real Madrid's world record acquisition has nothing but praise for his former team-mates.
He says: "You play with guys like Ryan Gigs and it is such an inspiration. He has all those medals and he has won everything but - let me promise you - nobody hates to lose more than Ryan.
"After 11 Premiership titles, the desire to win and the pain when you lose is still there and that is something I want.
"I want to never think I have ever achieved enough and seeing guys like Ryan and Paul Scholes has made me learn that it is possible to have that mindset."
But as he heads for the Bernabeu - and pressure he cannot have experienced even at United - Ronaldo reserves his most fulsome eulogy for Ferguson.
He says: "I have said many times that it is the relationship a son has with a father. He respects me and I respect him and when one of us is talking, the other ones listens. It is not a one-sided relationship. We both hear each other out and that is why we have got on so well.
"He taught me everything about football and I have never met a man who is so passionate about the game after so many years.
"He instilled that passion into me and he made me a winner. The most important thing he taught me is that second place is not an option.
"He also taught me lots of things in order to make me a better person and people might not understand how much time he invest in players off the pitch. But he really does and he cares about each and everyone of us.
"In an ideal world. I would like him to be my life coach and for me to never leave him but that is not possible and I just have to continue my journey and hold on to what he has taught me."
And in saying his final goodbye to Fergie, he cannot resist recounting the moment he knew the world's finest club manager believed Ronaldo would become one of the world's finest players ... and a worthy successor to Best, Beckham and Cantona.
He explains: "Sir Alex has shown so much confidence in me and for that I owe him everything. When I arrived - even though I did not want it - he insisted I have number seven on my shirt.
"I was very adamant that I did not want it. Then, he sat me down and told me about the history of the number seven and said ... do you understand what I am trying to say to you? I think you will be worthy of wearing this shirt.
"When I think of the greats who have worn that United shirt, I understood how much confidence he had in me. And I hope now that I am another Manchester United great who wore the most famous shirt at the club."
This article has 30 comments
if a month on the sidelines and 26 goals is relatively poor, you are losing something very special.
By dsf. Posted July 8 2009 at 1:14 AM.
The fact about life is that there is time for everything. A time came for United to buy Ronaldo,(he showed the desire to want to come to united) we did. A time also came for us to sell him( when he showed he was no longer interested in the club), we also did. We won medals with him and vice versa. It was obvious he was not a united player like Rooney. I sincerely hope he gets the kind of support he got from United when he is not playing well at Madrid. I wish all the best.
By Femi Biremo. Posted July 6 2009 at 12:47 AM.
two seasons ago i don't think anyone at manu would have allowed ronaldo to go ... he was simply a class above everyone else in england (and europe). how could you replace such a wonderful talent ... it was worth the massive season ticket fee just to see him play!
last season, whilst he did have an influential season ... didn't have the same spark ... the same drive. i've watched him repeatedly get frustrated when he didn't receive the ball; stomp around like a petulant child when he didn't get a free kick; and fail to take players on like he did in the past.
i've sat in the pub with fellow manu supporters and speculated: are opposing defences getting better at dealing with him? has he lost the drive to take players on, shoot at goal? does he really want to be in manchester or is he dreaming of not-so-far-away spain?
what i do know, is that i am thankful he had a relatively poor season in 08/09 ... because it makes him leaving for 80mill all the more palatable ... and sir af decision to let him go all the more astute.
By Carl Matthews. Posted July 5 2009 at 8:03 PM.
as a city fan i despise both ronaldo and united, but i think this interview shows a bit of class from ronaldo and fair play to him for that, still hate him tho
By c mcfc. Posted June 28 2009 at 12:29 AM.
Good riddens. I have been an avid Manchester Utd and England supporter all my life. I never forgave Ronaldo for purposely frustrating Rooney into getteing red carded in the World Cup. Besides ,Ronaldo is over ambitious and selfish on the pitch. He is brillaint , formed by Sir alex, but that does not make him a team player. Also his prima donna attitude towards the game covered in 'confusing' statamenets makes me sick . I am also convinced that Rooney will be a star player this year given the room he likes to have. Mark Grima Malta
By mark grima. Posted June 27 2009 at 12:40 PM.
Let's be honest. The English media should forget about the World Cup wink. It's only a game!! and yes the English are no saints either!!
The kid gave it all back to the ManU and to his team mates!! Yes I believe Rooney is his friend as well as most of the other players. Friendships make good memories and I'm sure they will remember the good times for ever. God Bless the entire team. Together with Sir Alex I had hours of pleasure in front of the TV. God Speed Guys!! Viva Ronaldo!!
By Tony DeSilva. Posted June 26 2009 at 6:28 PM.
Though its painful to see Ronaldo go, I wish him all the best as a player and thank him for what he did for Man u. However Im hoping that Man Utd out perform Real and all other clubs for him to realise what he missed out on. That said, Man u still has very many good players and Im sure we shall dominate Again!
By olando. Posted June 24 2009 at 12:08 PM.
Ronaldo has done a lot for MU over all these years, and it is a pity that we can't see him play with Rooney again. A real treat to the eyes for the football lover. Rooney will now become no. 1 in the team, and he'll surely rise to new heights in the game and in MU.
By alberto. Posted June 23 2009 at 12:46 PM.
Don't you just love it that fans of other teams can't help but read articles about The Mighty? And the fact that thoughts of United dominate their every waking minute and this inspires them to write petty, envy-inspired drivel. Thank you, your actions are a compliment and testament to the greatness of Manchester United. Looking forward to your replies - you know you can't resist!!
By steve. Posted June 21 2009 at 10:42 PM.
The fact that you use the term 'manu' and think he is going to Milan disqualifies you from assessing who our 'greats' are or aren't..
By utd99. Posted June 21 2009 at 8:50 PM.
one of manu greats has just left the stable. thanks boy. can you perform same feat in milan? only time will tell.
By elijah gure. Posted June 21 2009 at 7:01 PM.
Rooney will rule the world... He means as Shrek in Shrek the 3rd.
By Dan Law. Posted June 21 2009 at 3:02 PM.
It is time to look at what Ronaldo did for United and the fans in those last 6 years. It was fantasy football at United for the best part of 6 years and him teamed up with Rooney made this team he is leaving behind the best United team ever.
He will surely go down as the most gifted and effective United player in history.
It is however time to move on. He could still come back when he is at the top of his game. But let him show the world he is one of the best ever in football history by winning trophies with Real as well.
It is possible he could retire at United, he could come when he is 29-30.
By sk. Posted June 21 2009 at 12:34 PM.
Ronaldo gave man utd fans 6 years of glorious football and all fans should thank him and wish him well on his way to Spain. Thanks Ron :-)
By Mellissa O'Brien. Posted June 21 2009 at 11:02 AM.
i think its the right moment for his departure, after 6 year of gud services and a selling fee of 80 million pound!!!!! big thnks to ron..
By shameen. Posted June 21 2009 at 9:08 AM.
I like how they say, Madrid don't have the class of Madrid????? - How, where??? Madrid are a global powerhouse, UTD have won three european cups and two in the past ten years - that's it!
By Daniel. Posted June 21 2009 at 9:24 AM.
rooney will be the best striker in the world if SAF plays him in his best position. (so fergie buy 2 wingers so rooney doesnt have to play there)
By josh. Posted June 21 2009 at 9:27 AM.
good luck for the future cristiano!!!!!
By chef magnorio. Posted June 21 2009 at 8:06 AM.
why leave our fantastic side for a team no where near our standard,money talks if he really had dream to play for madrid why not end career there if they wanted him that much he would have waited till then,manutd could have become the greatest of all in these next few years and he wont be part of it his loss thanks for everything cristiano.
By david knox. Posted June 21 2009 at 8:03 AM.
" DURING six years in Manchester, Cristiano Ronaldo's English became almost fluent ... but he still can't bring himself to say sorry. "
rooney was born english and knows a lot ...... but he will NEVER say sorry for dancing on ricardo cavhallo's. balls. because ball dancing isn't worse than winking
By ol. Posted June 21 2009 at 7:29 AM.
Great player, as a Chelsea fan can't stand United but despite all Madrid's European cups, as a club they don't have the class of Utd.
Rooney is English and wouldn't want to play for anyone else
Ronaldo dreamed of playing for Real and now he is going there at a time when they are trying to buy a team to play fantasy football.
Nobody can blame him, if you judge him on what he can do, he is the best player in the world. If you include in that judgement what you think of him as a person then you may not think he is but that is a prejudiced judgement.
By Dzonu . Posted June 21 2009 at 7:45 AM.
CRon was our glory,our pride..Although he's leaving,he is leaving behind a legacy that's almost impossible to replicate.The 6 years he has spent with our dear Man Utd were & will remain etched in history as glorious..It was his dream to play for Real.I hope he wears no. 9 in Real and plays as well, if not better.But I'm having the feeling that after he finishes playing for Real or ends his footballing career,he would feel that his best playing experience was at United...Hail UNITED
By Sukrit Mukherjee. Posted June 21 2009 at 4:54 AM.
man utd should not give legandary status to RONALDO.he simply dont deserve that status,he disrespect the manager and team mate aswel.
By ain. Posted June 21 2009 at 3:05 AM.
Somewhere along the line, all clubs have to be run as a business. Man Utd had 6 years and much success with Ronaldo, but to be able to still sell him for 80Million after all that, is good business. The clubs that aren't run as businesses, will fall by the wayside. Nobody is irreplaceable and no one man makes a team.
By Ted Fletcher. Posted June 21 2009 at 3:37 AM.
Good luck Ronaldo! Welcome Rooney!
By Edward De Cruz. Posted June 21 2009 at 4:00 AM.
Now you heard it from his mouth , happy ?
He is not longer with us !!! That bothers me , cause i really enjoied every moment when he was on the pich .
He is 24 , he still a kid , but he sloke like a man , and a man he will become in Madrid , all we can do is , remember , and wish that he was here.
That,s all folks .
Good luck Cristiano and above all , please forgive us as well for all that we called you , we are at blame , good luck to you and show us how good you will , for sure be.
By Fred. Posted June 21 2009 at 2:49 AM.
i would be more worried if rooney wanted to leave manu he is easily the best player in the squad and will be for a lot of years
By groomie. Posted June 21 2009 at 2:43 AM.
I only wish Cristiano could have spoken in such a dignified and honest manner admist all the speculation over the proposed transfer to Real.
By Paul. Posted June 21 2009 at 2:38 AM.
Rooney couldn't rule World of Leather.
By Keith Price. Posted June 21 2009 at 12:34 AM.
the facts are utd got 6 glorious yrs of entertainment from ronaldo.In todays football world fans should thank him and wish him all the best.On top of the joy he brought to the fans their club alos have a tidy sum thanks to him,to invest in and make the team stronger.
Get real folks,stop hating him and be thankful that one of the worlds greats gave you so much and left you in a very good place.
By craig davidson. Posted June 20 2009 at 11:34 PM.