Real’s £100m bid to sign Cristiano Ronaldo
May 16, 2008
Real have become increasingly vocal about their desire to land Ronaldo in recent weeks, even going to the extent of insisting that in every interview Madrid players give, they must eulogise the 23-year-old.
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| £100m man: Real are willing to spend big for Ronaldo |
They are now reportedly gearing up to present United with an unprecedented £100 million offer for the player they have set as transfer target number one. Moreover, they would happily sign off £200,000-a-week in wages to Ronaldo, it has emerged.
Madrid president Ramon Calderon might have described the prospect of bringing Ronaldo to the Bernabeu as “almost impossible” on Tuesday, but Ronaldo’s comments last night have triggered a torrent of speculation.
“I am happy here but let’s see what happens after the Champions League final. I am feeling calm here. I’m happy here but in the future I don’t know,” he said.
Ronaldo’s recent comments that he has dreamt of playing in Spain have convinced the club that they have a realistic window of opportunity to sign Ronaldo. Miguel Angel Arroyo, Real’s general director, has now stressed that nothing will be spared to that end.
“If it is not possible for the club to sign, it would not be because of money but for other reasons,” he said.
“Real Madrid have the solvency and the financial liquidity to be able to take on a signing of the magnitude of Cristiano Ronaldo. It would be economically beneficial due to the merchandising that would arise from it.”
The financial returns on a Ronaldo signing is beyond doubt, and Madrid are desperate to have a piece of the pie. Sporting director Predrag Mijatovic recently revealed his plans for the Portugal star to be “the face of the new Real Madrid,” a second-generation David Beckham.
The question that will concern fans is whether United would accept an offer of £100m. Chief executive David Gill has repeatedly stressed that Ronaldo is not for sale at any price, and many would snort at the idea of Ferguson allowing the club to sell a player that has not yet reached his potential.
However, United have a debt that is growing by almost £300,000 every day; the club paid £42m in the past financial year in interest on the debts alone. Conspiracy theorists suggest that the Glazers harbour ambitious plan to clear their debt by 2012, which would involve selling off many star players - although Rio Ferdinand’s recent agreement to a new contract ought to go some way to dispelling that.
Fans will hope that Sir Alex Ferguson acts as a Hadrian’s wall to the Spanish transfer campaign. Madrid’s Gabriel Heinze, a good friend of Ronaldo’s since their time together at Old Trafford, has confirmed that the bond between manager and winger would be Real’s biggest challenge.
“I would sign him, but I think it’s impossible,” he said.
“He’s going through a glorious spell at Manchester and Ferguson was the one who found him and who got him to the top level. While Ferguson’s there, there’s little chance of signing him.”
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yeah! yeah! well said! Cristiano ROnaldo must not leave MU to go to Real!!! he’ss good at Manchester United!! he become bad at real.. just like bekham..
:( don’t go 2 real.. don’t go 2 real..