Onto today's papers and it's all about Ronaldo. I'm tempted to boycott all talk of the Ronaldo saga in these pages, but I guess I can't ignore it, much as I might like to. The latest round of stories is based on this quote from Perez:
"He's also a player that would be very good if he came to Real Madrid," said Pérez. "What I know is what I've read, that there is an agreement by means of which he would come for £80m..." Asked if he would pay that amount, Pérez said: "Next week we will look at the numbers and nobody should doubt that we are going to design with our sporting advisors a spectacular project."Their seems to be a lot of caution around though, at least in the broadsheets, with The Guardian continuing:
There are, however, complications because it was the former Madrid president, Ramón Calderón, who brokered a deal with Ronaldo's representatives and he was ousted last month. The agreement will not be legally binding and in any case Pérez is understood to be eager to ensure he is not seen as effectively rubber-stamping a transfer negotiated by his predecessor. He will prioritise the signings of Kaka and Ribéry and look to revisit the Ronaldo deal later in the summer while also seeking to bring down United's asking price.And The Times agreeing:
The likelihood is that Pérez will at least make an inquiry to United, but sources have indicated that he would have no intention of going anywhere near the figure that Calderón had floated last summer.
United, for their part, would have little cause to drop their valuation of a player who has three years remaining on his contract. Ferguson would consider bidding for Ribéry if they were forced to sell Ronaldo, which has raised conspiracy theories that Real have lined up a deal for the France forward with a view to using him as a bargaining chip to sign Ronaldo, but such theories have been dismissed out of hand by officials at Old Trafford.
"Until the competitions finish we are not going to talk with the clubs. But I've always spoken of my great relationship with [the Milan vice-president Adriano] Galliani and this relationship maybe makes it easier that Kaka comes to Madrid."So there we have it.
Des Kelly is guilty of the biggest overreaction of the day - about Rooney - he has one bad game and apparently this is some sort of crisis. I say some sort of crisis simply because I gave up reading his rubbish after the first 2 paragraphs:
What has happened to Wayne Rooney? Where is the player that struck fear into opposing players the world over?
When he erupted on the scene as part man-child, part boulder, he was a thrilling combination of Maradona, Rocky Marciano and something that had escaped from The Flintstones. No English lad was blessed with the ability to win a game almost single-handedly since Paul Gascoigne in his all-to-brief heyday.
Another load of rubbish in The Mirror, Berbatov wants out, allegedly:
the Bulgarian's advisers are making discreet enquiries to other clubs to see whether there is interest if United do not make guarantees about his long-term future.Whatever.
The Sun report that, after yesterday's Stoke rumour, Scholes is wanted by Bolton:
Scholes is ready to leave Manchester United in search of one last campaign after spending much of this term on the sidelines.
The midfield maestro has grown sick of being a bit-part player at Old Trafford this season and feels it is affecting his form.
Now neighbours Bolton want him to be the central figure in their side by making him the highest-paid player at the club.
Scholes, 34, signed a one-year extension to his contract this season.
But it is unlikely United would demand any sort of transfer fee if the player asked to leave.
The Trotters would be prepared to match his wages of around £70,000 a week. It is understood Scholes would not drive a hard bargain as he is just looking to play one last season of regular football.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment