C.Ronaldo In Real

Manchester United have agreed to sell Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid for a world record 80 million pounds (130 million dollars, 94 million euros), the club said Thursday.

"Manchester United have received a world-record, unconditional offer of 80 million pounds for Cristiano Ronaldo from Real Madrid," said a statement on its website, under the headline "Reds accept £80m Ronaldo bid."

The statement continued: "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."

Real confirmed they had approached United with a bid for Ronaldo but gave no indication of the fee involved.

"The club hopes to reach an agreement with the player in the coming days," a statement on the club website read.

Ronaldo's United and Portugal team-mate Nani admits his compatriot will be missed, but he believes the English champions have enough quality to guarantee more success in the future.

"Cristiano's departure is not impossible to fix," Nani said. "He will be missed but United have other players who can replace him."

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

The news comes just days after Real clinched the 56-million-pound transfer of Brazilian playmaker Kaka from Italian side AC Milan as they look to compete with arch-rivals Barcelona on the domestic front and such as Manchester United and Chelsea in the Champions League.

United fans have repeatedly been told no deal had been agreed for the sale of FIFA's world player of the year in the face of regular statements from Spain the former Sporting Lisbon star was bound for the Bernabeu.

But it has been reported in England that Ronaldo, who is currently on holiday in Los Angeles, earlier this year had agreed a pre-contract with the Spanish club worth 8.3 million pounds a year over the next five years.

He has been keen to join Real for 18 months and it took a last-ditch plea from United boss Sir Alex Ferguson to persuade him to stay at Old Trafford last year.

Ronaldo, who joined United for 12 million pounds in 2003, had made it clear he wanted a new challenge after winning the Champions League in 2008. But Ferguson flew to Lisbon and talked him into one more year with United before reporting Real to FIFA for an illegal approach.

However, Ronaldo, who is contracted to United until 2012, was never fully embraced by fans or team-mates after his flirtation with Real.

His name was sung less at Old Trafford and there was a noticable drop-off in his performances. Although he scored 18 league goals and helped United to the Premier League title, Ronaldo was often an uninterested bystander for long periods in matches.

Cracks in his relationship with Ferguson began to show when Ronaldo reacted angrily to being substituted against Manchester City and then criticised the United manager's tactics after the Champions League final defeat to Barcelona.

He clearly feels he is in danger of growing stale and the chance to be part of Real's new galaticos project will appeal to a player never shy of playing on his star quality.

Ferguson had previously insisted he "wouldn't sell that mob a virus" when asked about the possibility of allowing Ronaldo to join Real.

But the Scot has run out of patience with Ronaldo's hankering to move to Spain and has finally decided to cash in on his prize asset. United's debts of 700 million pounds must also have played a role in the club's decision to accept the offer.

Ronaldo scored 118 goals for United, including 42 in 2007-08 alone, and it will hard for Ferguson to replace the star.

Moves for one or more of Bayern Munich winger Franck Ribery, Wigan's Antonio Valencia and Lyon forward Karim Benzema would go someway to filling the void.

Real's cash could allow Ferguson to keep Carlos Tevez, who had appeared close to leaving after United refused to meet the 32 million pounds price tag set by his economic rights holders, although the two parties remain apart on the Argentine's wage demands.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he expected United to be stronger from the sale of Ronaldo.

"He's one of the most brilliant players in the world. I think people will be sad that he's lost to the game in England," Brown said of Ronaldo.

"At the same time, I know Sir Alex Ferguson well, and I know he'll have plans that will be rebuilding and renewing his team," he told BBC.

"And I would expect that Manchester United and English football will emerge not weaker, but emerge in a new way and probably stronger in the long run".

Ronaldo Gives The Word: I Stay

The Portugal international's future has been the subject of intense speculation for most of the summer after he originally voiced his desire for a transfer to Real Madrid.

Real Madrid president Ramón Calderón has made no secret of his wish to sign Ronaldo, having stated to the press that the ex-Sporting man would be a welcome addition at Santiago Bernabéu.

But Ronaldo has now guaranteed that he will stay at Old Trafford at least one more season, thus confirming Sir Alex Ferguson's allegations in which he stressed the affair to be a "closed case".

"Ferguson heard my arguments, I heard his and, in fact, it was settled that the best for both parties would be for me to stay. Therefore, I can confirm that, next season, I will play for Manchester United," he told Publico.

"And, before rumours emerge saying that I will play against my will, I want to make this clear: whoever says or writes that is lying. I will play for Manchester with all my heart and soul. I will fight and honour that shirt with the same commitment and dedication as always."

Ronaldo has also taken the blame for this transfer saga, which lasted for several months and damaged Manchester United's relationship with Real Madrid.

"I want to assume the responsibility for all this controversy," Ronaldo added. "It was not their fault because I was the one who publicly expressed my desire to go to Real Madrid. I ended up being, even involuntarily, the responsible one for the poor relationship between the two clubs."

He further added that his dream of playing for the Merengues is real and does not close the door on a future move to Santiago Bernabéu.

"I knew that Real Madrid were interested in signing me and that they had allegedly made a very high offer to Manchester United. My desire was, for some time, that Manchester had accepted my transfer to Madrid. Saying otherwise would be to trick people and my own consciousness," he noted.

The complete interview with Cristiano Ronaldo will be released tomorrow.

Autor:   Luís Mira

No Transfers This Summer, Hints Fergie

The Red Devils were quick out of the blocks this time last summer, following their league title win with the acquisition of Nani, Anderson, Owen Hargreaves and then Carlos Tevez on loan, with a permanent deal as good as agreed.

A Premier League-Champions League double ensued as United established themselves as, at least on form, the greatest team in Europe. With time on the side of many of their star players, Sir Alex has long suggested that changes will be few and far between.

There were murmurs that there may be investment in a right-back, but the Scot is keeping faith with last season's biggest overachiever, Wes Brown, and also backing Gary Neville to return to full fitness and give the club at least one more good year, even announcing that he will retain the captaincy despite spending almost the entire of last season out with various injuries.

The boss did acknowledge that the side were light up front and it has since been made public that he was eyeing last summer's mooted transfer target, Dimitar Berbatov of Tottenham Hotspur, to add another dimension to the club's attacking options, as it looks increasingly unlikely that Angola star Manucho Goncalves will be granted a work permit.

The boss' interest in Berba has cooled since Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy's public attack on both he and Liverpool coach Rafael Benitez. Liverpool got their man in Robbie Keane, but the high asking price rumoured to be in the region of £30 million for the Bulgarian was enough to put United off considering a further move for the player.

Ferguson has announced that youngster Frazier Campbell will be staying at the club following an impressive pre-season. Also, a damning assessment of what lies ahead for Louis Saha came at that same moment, when the boss declared that currently, United only had two strikers in Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez.

Beyond that, though, all indications point to the same squad lining up later this month when the season kicks off. "We might well start 2008-09 with largely the squad we had last season - and after all, they didn't do too badly," Sir Alex sarcastically quipped.

"We have not brought in the kind of top-quality player everyone seems to be expecting.

"We are still researching and looking but it is not easy and certainly we are not desperate.

"We have the right balance of youth and experience thanks to the work we did in the transfer market the previous year.

"In terms of numbers we have been boosted by the return from loan of several young players who have the potential to go all the way.

"So I think we already have the men for the job."

 Autor: Brian O'Ryan

Fergie: Just Three More Years

Wednesday’s Champions League triumph over Chelsea in Moscow secured United their 29th trophy since Ferguson took charge of the club back in 1986.

The Scot’s phenomenal success at Old Trafford has seen him earn a place alongside compatriot Sir Matt Busby as one of the very greatest managers in the Red Devils’ illustrious history.

Many have speculated that Ferguson would step down after clinching his second Champions League crown, and the 66-year-old confirmed he will most definitely retire within the next three years.

“I won’t be manager here when I’m 70 and I won’t be managing any more than another three years at the very, very most,” he said. “That is without question.

“I think most things will be my decision. And I think David Gill [United’s chief executive] is happy with that.”

Replacement

A list of potential successors to Ferguson’s throne has been gradually forming over last few seasons, with names like Roy Keane, Paul Ince, Steve Coppell and Bryan Robson – United greats all – being mentioned.

But Sir Alex, despite hinting recently that assistant coach Carlos Queiroz would get his vote, typically refused to comment on such matters, insisting they are beyond his authority.

He said: “It’s not my job to groom a replacement and it wouldn’t be fair to tell the Glazers what to do.”

Author:  Mike Maguire

Carrick: Stage Set For Ronaldo

The Red Devils face Chelsea in Moscow in the first ever all-English Champions League final. It is the Blues' first final and United's first since 1999, the year in which they sealed an unprecedented treble with an incredible stoppage time turnaround.

Back then, United almost had to creep past more established and celebrated continental rivals, but the Premier League has since become twice the franchise and the pay-off is clear to see, as they are undefeated all tournament and have quite arguably been the most impressive team.

Cristiano Ronaldo has been one of the stars of the competition - and indeed the season - as he has netted over 40 goals in a ll competitions in what has been a quite exceptional campaign so far.

Despite racing to such dizzying heights, the Portuguese international still has his critics and is supposedly guilty of not performing in big games. Team-mate Michael Carrick clearly does not belong to this school of thought, and believes there is every possibility the back-to-back PFA Player of the Year cannot make the difference on the grandest stage of them all in club football.

"Ronaldo could have a massive say," Carrick told the club's official website. "He's world-class and will surely be voted World Player of the Year.

"These are the games he produces in and there's no bigger game. He's produced the goods all season and scored so many goals - there's no reason why he won't do it again."

"It was very tight in the league and going into the last game of the season level on points shows the teams are well matched.

"We're feeling great because we won the title, but we'll have to be at our best to win. The rewards and losses are massive, hopefully we'll come out on top."

Squad player John O'Shea has added that the occasion is one that is so special, that even if some players do not get the start they dreamed of - or even fail to make the squad - that nobody will be complaining or questioning Sir Alex Ferguson's decisions, and that it is all about achieving their goal as a team.

"Not many players get the chance to win a European Cup winners medal so that would be very special," said the utility man.

"But the players have to accept the manager's decision about who will be in the team and on the bench.

"We all want what is best for Manchester United and that is to win the European Cup."

Author:Brian O'Ryan

Manu Is The First

Meanwhile at Old Trafford, Manchester United went to the top of the Premier League table with a 4-1 win over struggling Middlesbrough thanks to a Carlos Tevez double and one goal each to Portuguese winger Nani and striker Wayne Rooney.
Tevez and Rooney's strike partnership for the defending champions is beginning to gather momentum, but it was Nani who opened the scoring in just the third minute with a contender for goal of the season when he unleashed an unstoppable shot from the left.
Boro equalised three minutes later through French striker Jeremie Aliadiere but Gareth Southgate's side were unable to cope with wave after wave of attack from Sir Alex Ferguson's men.
Rooney's eighth goal in seven matches for club and country restored the lead in the 33rd minute before Tevez scored his first 10 minutes after the break, and secured the win with his second five minutes from time.
The Argentinian's late goal gave United a new record, as they have now scored four goals in four consecutive games for the first time in the club's history.
Unbeaten Arsenal will reclaim top spot on Sunday if they can take at least a point at Liverpool, whose title aspirations could effectively be crushed by defeat at Anfield in the biggest match of the season so far.

Fergie's Comment After Man.United - Roma

Manchester United edged Roma out of the game tonight courtesy of a fine Wayne Rooney finish, and his manager was all too happy his side prevailed with all three points, especially as the match had 0-0 written all over it.

"It was a fair result. There was a lot of patience from the players

"There was good football from both teams and it was tactical at times",

A wry smile creeped across Ferguson's face as he was asked about his thoughts on the goal and of the goalscorer,

"The goal was a great finish and a super diagonal run, but overall it was good team effort and they learned from the experience"

There was no doubt that Ferguson will be extra pleased that Rooney had poduced the finish, for the winning goal marked his first goal of the season, and in his boss's eyes, should hopefully spark a rich goalscoring run.

The great Scot was gracious in victory however, as he eluded to the fact that Roma were unlucky in the end,

"To be fair AS Roma created a few chances, a couple of good chances actually, but they couldn't put it away"

Manchester United (Eng)

Location: Manchester, England
Year Founded: 1878
Nickname: Red Devils
Stadium: Old Traford
Capacity: 68174
First Division/Premier League:
Winners (16): 1907-08, 1910-11, 1951-52, 1955-56, 1956-57, 1964-65, 1966-67, 1992-93, 1993-94, 1995-96, 1996-97, 1998-99, 1999-2000, 2000-01, 2002-03, 2006-07.
Second Division/Championship:
Winners (2): 1935-36, 1974-75
FA Cup:
Winners (11): 1909, 1948, 1963, 1977, 1983, 1985, 1990, 1994, 1996, 1999, 2004
League Cup:
Winners (2): 1992, 2006 
UEFA Champions League:
Winners (2): 1968, 1999 
UEFA Cup Winners' Cup:
Winners (1): 1991
European Super Cup:
Winners(1): 1991
Intercontinental Cup/World Club Championship:
Winners(1): 1999
Community Shield:
Winners (16): 1908, 1911, 1952, 1956, 1957, 1965, 1967, 1977, 1983, 1990, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 2003, 2007 



Squad Information:


staff:
Valter di Salvo
Alex Ferguson
Brian McClair
Rene Meulensteen
Mike Phelan
Carlos Queiroz

Goalkeepers:
Tom Heaton
Edwin Van Der Sar
Ben Foster
Tomasz Kuszczak

Defenders:
Gary Neville
Phil Bardsley
Danny Simpson
Richard Eckersley
Patrice Evra
Tom Cleverley
Adam Eckersley
Rio Ferdinand
Wes Brown
Nemanja Vidic
Mikael Silvestre
James Chester
Jonny Evans
Gerard Pique
John O'Shea


Midfielders:
Owen Hargreaves
Michael Carrick
Sam Hewson
Kieran Lee
Darren Fletcher
Nani
Paul Scholes
Ryan Giggs
Sean Evans
Lee Martin
Anderson Oliveira
Cristiano Ronaldo
Ji-Sung Park

Forwards:
Wayne Rooney
Louis Saha
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
Fangzhuo Dong
Carlos Tevez
Fraizer Campbell
Michael Barnes
Fabien Brandy


                                         Team History

         The club was formed as Newton Heath L&YR F.C. in 1878 as the works team of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway depot at Newton Heath. The club's shirts were green and gold halves. They played on a small, dilapidated field on North Road, near the future site of the Manchester Piccadilly railway station for fifteen years, before moving to Bank Street in the nearby town of Clayton in 1893. The club had entered the Football League the previous year and began to sever its links with the rail depot, becoming an independent company, appointing a club secretary and dropping the "L&YR" from their name to become simply Newton Heath F.C.. Not long afterwards, in 1902, the club neared bankruptcy, with debts of over £2500. At one point, their Bank Street ground was even closed by the bailiffs.
                  Just before having to be shut down for good, the club received a sizeable investment from J. H. Davies, the managing director of Manchester Breweries. Legend goes that Harry Stafford, the club captain, was showing off his prized St. Bernard dog at a club fund-raiser, when Davies approached him to buy the dog. Stafford declined, but was able to persuade Davies to invest in the club and become club chairman.[11] It was decided at one of the early board meetings that the club required a change of name to reflect the fresh start they had been afforded. Manchester Central and Manchester Celtic were among the names suggested, before Louis Rocca, a young immigrant from Italy, said "Gentlemen, why don't we call ourselves Manchester United?"[12] The name stuck, and Manchester United officially came into existence on 26 April 1902. Davies also decided it would be appropriate to change the club's colours, abandoning the green and gold halves of Newton Heath, and picking red and white to be the colours of Manchester United.
                   Ernest Mangnall was appointed as club secretary after James West had resigned as manager on 28 September 1902. Mangnall was charged with trying to get the club into the First Division, and fell just short of that target at the first attempt, finishing in 5th in Division Two. Mangnall decided that it was necessary to bring in some fresh faces to the club, and signed players such as Harry Moger in goal, Dick Duckworth at half-back and John Picken up front, but it was another new half-back by the name of Charlie Roberts who made the biggest impact. He cost the club a then-record £750 from Grimsby Town in April 1904, and helped them to a third place finish in the 1903-04 season, just a point short of the second promotion place.
              It was not long, however, before the club was at last promoted to the First Division for the first time under their new name, finishing in second place in the 1905-06 Second Division. A season of consolidation followed, with the club finishing in 8th, before they finally won their first league title in 1908. Manchester City had recently been under investigation for paying some of their players a salary over the amount allowed by FA regulations. They were fined £250 and eighteen of their players were banned from playing for them ever again. United were quick to pounce on the situation, picking up Billy Meredith (the Welsh Wizard) and Sandy Turnbull, amongst others. The new boys from across town were ineligible to play until New Year's Day 1907, due to their suspension, so it was left until the 1907-08 season for them to make a proper impact on United's bid for the title. And that they did, getting the campaign off to a storming start, with a 2-1 victory over Sheffield United, beginning a run of ten consecutive victories. Despite a shaky end to the season, United managed to hang on and finished the season nine points ahead of their closest rivals, Aston Villa.

     The 1998-99 season for Manchester United was the most successful season in English club football history as they became the first and only English team to win The Treble - winning the Premiership, FA Cup and UEFA Champions League in the same season. After a very tense Premier League season, Manchester United won the title on the final day beating Tottenham Hotspur 2-1, whilst Arsenal won 1-0 against Aston Villa. Winning the Premiership was the first part of the Treble in place, the one part that manager Alex Ferguson described as the hardest. In the FA Cup Final United faced Newcastle United and won 2-0 with goals from Teddy Sheringham and Paul Scholes. In the final match of that season, the 1999 UEFA Champions League Final they defeated Bayern Munich in what was then considered one of the greatest comebacks ever witnessed, losing going into injury time and scoring twice to win 2-1. Ferguson was subsequently knighted for his services to football. Rounding out that record breaking year, Manchester United also won the Intercontinental Cup after beating Palmeiras 1-0 in Tokyo