MADRID DANGLE £35M CARROT

Last updated : 26 January 2007 By Editor

From the Independent:

Real Madrid will offer £35m for the Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo this summer, according to sources close to the club's sporting director, Pedrag Mijatovic.

The Spanish side expect United to stonewall advances for their biggest asset but are banking on the player's head being turned by the prospect of becoming the club's biggest signing since the capture of Zinedine Zidane and the prospect of replacing David Beckham, not just on the pitch but off it as the new face of Real.

Ronaldo, who will be 22 in February, appeared to have one foot in the Bernabeu last summer. While still in Germany with the Portuguese team, he was alleged to have offered his services to the then Real Madrid presidential candidate Juan Miguel Villar Mir, who promised to sign him if he won the election.

Ronaldo was quoted as saying:

“I have told my agent I am prepared to leave. I want to do it in the best manner possible. I want to play for Real and dream of doing so. I have gone with Villar Mir's project because it is serious and follows correct procedures. They have explained to me their plans and the next step is they will talk to Manchester United.”

Villar Mir lost the election, however. A source close to Mijatovic said last night:

“The club have decided to make an offer for Ronaldo that will be very difficult to refuse.”

Ruud van Nistelrooy says:

“If the player is aware of the situation and doesn't want to stay anymore, then anything can happen. United definitely won't give up Ronaldo very easily. But it's also in the player's hands. That will make a massive impact on the situation.

“There wasn't much that happened between us in Manchester. It was all blown up a bit. There were a lot of lies said about it. He's a fantastic player. This is his best season so far at United.

“He's scoring a lot of goals and playing very well. He's still very young but physically and technically he has everything. It's a situation for Madrid and United to sort out. We have a great squad but great players are always welcome.”