One of United’s modern greats has spoken out about the protracted saga that is Cristiano Ronaldo and Real Madrid, stating Ronaldo would be “stupid” to ditch Old Trafford for the Santiago Bernabéu. [Read the rest of this entry »]

Having lost Flamini to Milan and (most probably) Hleb to Barcelona, it leaves the midfield at The Emirates Stadium rather light. Therefore, Arsene Wenger has seen fit to move for a Portugese star, one who has been tracked by Manchester United, Juventus and Ac Milan.

Sporting Lisbon midfielder maestro Miguel Veloso has been tracked by a number of top European clubs, a collection of which now includes Arsenal, according to the players agent Paulo Barbosa.

Barbosa claims that Arsenal are making moves to sign the player, but whether a fee is agreed with Sporting or they trigger his release clause (€30million) remains to be seen:

It is not secret to anyone that he wants to play abroad.

We did not have normal contact from the Arsenal board, but from a member of the technical staff at the club.

At the moment there is not a formal offer yet, but it is possible that will happen soon as Juventus and Ac Milan have shown an equal interest in the player.

The fee is likely to be rather inflated due to the 22-year-old’s newly signed contract that runs until 2013, a fact that will please his agent. However, Sporting have a tradition of allowing important youngsters to move on with Hugo Viana, Christiano Ronaldo and Nani all leaving when interest from English parties arose.

As the United-Real tug-of-war for Cristiano Ronaldo continues, a member of Real’s Dutch contingent has felt the need to speak out at rumours he may be heading to Old Trafford as part of an exchange agreement to assist the transfer.

Wesley Sneijder released a statement on his personal site, rejecting claims he was on his way to Manchester as part of a deal to bring Ronaldo to the Santiago Bernabéu. He told his fans that, despite interest from the newly-crowned European champions after a sparkling display at Euro 2008, he will remain in Madrid:

I’d like to comment briefly on the reports and rumours that I might be going to Manchester United as part of some kind of exchange deal

As I’ve said already, when I left Ajax, all I wanted was to go to Real Madrid. They are the best club in the world. And now that I’m here, all I want is to win as many trophies as I can with them and wear the white shirt for as long as possible.

In short, I’m flattered to be linked to Manchester United…but it’s not happening. End of story.

Many different types of deal have been flying about with regard to Ronaldo’s protracted move to Real. Some have been as high as €100million (£80million), others have including Real players, including Sneijder himself, Sergio Ramos and Brazillian Robinho. Sneijder proclaimed his objection to Robinho being mentioned, hoping the two linkwith Ronaldo this coming season:

The same rumours have been doing the rounds about Robinho. Well, I hope he stays too, and I hope that Cristiano Ronaldo joins us at the Bernabéu.

I’m sure United fans would like to see Sneijder or Robinho (or both) at Old Trafford, whilst also pocketing £40million or so. Yet, does Sneijder’s snub show that United are always second to Real Madrid’s reputation and money in terms of attracting players?

…According to The Guardian – a pretty reliable source – who themselves quote Marca – a truly grubby source – and their interview with Cristiano Ronaldo’s godfather, Fernao Sousa, who basically says that his godson should – and will – move to Real Madrid.

Sousa said:

“I believe that he has decided he is going to Real Madrid but he is not going to say so until after the European Championship.”

“Madrid is my team, the best team in the world, and I’d like him to go there, I love Madrid and I would go and live with him.”

As sources go, Marca is very ropey, and Ronaldo’s godfather has a barely concealed love for Real Madrid – but stranger things would have happened than Ronaldo making his way to the Bernebeu.

The people at Ask.com have brought us some interesting news! Manchester United’s boss Sir Alex Ferguson and goal machine gun Christiano Ronaldo have scooped the Barclay’s Manager of the Month and player of the month awards for January.

No doubt Ronny will add the award (his third player of the month accolade) to his trophy bedecked room of mirrors, and spin around in a whirl of glory, checking himself out and the awards too in the process…But the more pertinent issue is are these accolades deserved? The Christiano Ronaldo player of the month case is pretty much open and shut, the man has been a velvet locomotive much all season, scoring at will and with metronomic efficiency – bagging 6 goals in 4 Prem games this month alone, oh and he did all that from the wing.

The case for the Lord of the Ferg is just as obvious, starting off 2008 with a 1-0 win over Birmingham City, before a romping 6-0 home trouncing of Newcastle United (including a Ronaldo hat-trick.) The Portuguese winger then scored a last minute goal in the 2-0 away win at Reading, before bagging a double in United’s 2-0 home win against Portsmouth.

Any arguments, surely not?

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It can’t come as much of a surprise that Arsene Wenger, a man who despatches hordes of scouts to scour the continent for tall, fast, technically immaculate players – once ran the rule over a certain young Portuguese whipper-snapper named Christiano Ronaldo.
Arsenal boss Wenger told the BBC’s Jonathan Legard:

“He was here much earlier – he could tell you that if he wants.

“Manchester United had a partnership with Sporting Lisbon when United assistant coach Carlos Queiroz moved and that made it very difficult.”

So it looks like Ronaldo could have been playing in the red and white garb of United’s biggest Premier League rivals had it not been for a Sporting Lisbon-Manchester United ‘connection’! And po-faced Wenger ended his interview with the remark:

“I don’t want to create any story that isn’t needed,”

Too late matey, you just did!