Manchester United Fans Club

The Ronaldo saga continued, with the latest about him making a phone call back to Manchester United informing he will be back for pre-season after holiday.

Cristiano Ronaldo has phoned Manchester United to say ‘I’ll be back’. SunSport can reveal that the Portuguese star dramatically made contact with Old Trafford for the first time in a month.

Ronaldo, 23, has given United fans the news they most wanted by informing the club he would be going straight on holiday and would return, as instructed, for pre-season training. His call makes it clear Ronaldo does not envisage any move to Real Madrid in the coming weeks. The player was told he must be back at United three weeks from the day Portugal’s interest in Euro 2008 ended - July 10 - and he has said he will be there.
Neil Custis, The Sun

According to several newspapers, Reds chief executive David Gill will make it clear to Real president Ramon Calderon that Ronaldo is not for sale when the two clubs come face to face at the European Club Association meeting in Nyon, Switzerland on July 7. The Mirror claimed on Wednesday that Real plan to unveil £70million-rated Ronaldo on that date.

Meanwhile, Real Madrid star Wesley Sneijder has ruled himself out of a move to Old Trafford. Reports had suggested the Dutch midfielder could be used as bait in Real’s bid to secure Ronaldo, and that Robinho could also be offered as part exchange for the Portugal international. But Sneijder has insisted “it’s not happening - end of story”.

The Manchester United winger has yet to reveal his future plans with Madrid attempting to lure him to the Bernabeu after a long, public courtship.

The capital club’s conduct has angered United, who reported Madrid to world governing body FIFA over what they considered to be attempts to unsettle the player.

FIFA refused to take any formal action, however, and Calderon is adamant his club have done nothing wrong.

“I suppose they think we have intervened in some way,” he told Madrid radio station City FM. “But it’s not like that and that’s the truth. (more…)

With Portugal Euro 2008 campaign ended by Germany, the press speculation about where Cristiano Ronaldo’s future lies continue to be the top stories.

Manchester United Football Club has moved to reiterate its stance on the matter: United are not listening to offers.

Ronaldo himself  has not help the club that nurtured him from a show-pony to what he was today and disrespect the Red Devils fans that had stood by him following his World Cup 2006 brawls with Wayne Rooney, the fans had even come out a song - Viva Ronaldo, to make a clear statement to the press where his heart lies at.

Certainly, Real Madrid was at fault with their continuity public pursuit on Ronaldo coupled with the world body FIFA seems to have stand on the Madrid’s Club by issued a statement - Real Madrid has done nothing wrong.

This saga will continue for few more days, as Ronaldo was quoted he will arrange discussion with Manchester United and we shall see a clearer picture very soon.

Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon insists Manchester United have ‘no evidence’ that the Spanish giants have acted inappropriately in their pursuit of Cristiano Ronaldo.FIFA confirmed yesterday they had received an official request from United to investigate the matter with the English club claiming Madrid have carried out a deliberate campaign to unsettle the 23-year-old Portugal winger, currently on duty at Euro 2008.

But Calderon is adamant his club have no case to answer. He said: ‘They don’t have any evidence because nothing has happened.

‘All there is is what the papers say and rumours that the player seems to want to leave. But at the moment a move is impossible because United don’t want to sell him.

‘It’s United’s right (to complain) but we haven’t done anything and we are not going to do anything. It’s a matter between the player and his club.’

Real Madrid coach Bernd Schuster has denied that the Spanish giants are ‘obsessed’ by Ronaldo. Schuster told the Spanish press that he will not let the issue overshadow his preparations for next season.

‘This Cristiano matter does not worry me nor am I obsessed by it,’ he told Spanish newspaper Marca.

‘While he doesn’t play for Madrid all we can do is hope, although it’s clear that he would be a great signing and would adapt well to our squad.’

FIFA’s regulations say one club has to inform another if they are to start negotiations with one of their players, although they do not stipulate any possible sanction.

FIFA’s regulations do not stipulate any possible sanction against Madrid but they do say one club have to inform another if they are to start negotiations with one of their players.

The rules do not specifically state, however, that the club that owns the player have to give consent.

Article 18 of FIFA’s regulations for the status and transfer of players states: ‘A club intending to conclude a contract with a professional must inform the player’s current club in writing before entering into negotiations with him.

‘A professional shall only be free to conclude a contract with another club if his contract with his present club has expired or is due to expire within six months. Any breach of this provision shall be subject to appropriate sanctions.’

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has already voiced his dislike of Madrid’s touting for Ronaldo, claiming their major domestic rivals, Barcelona, refrain from public expressions of admiration for other clubs’ players.

He is adamant Ronaldo neither wants to, nor will be, leaving Old Trafford this summer.

A statement on the club’s official website, www.manutd.com, yesterday read: ‘On 27 May, Manchester United made clear its intention to report Real Madrid to FIFA if it continued to involve itself in the future of Cristiano Ronaldo.

‘Unfortunately, Real Madrid has not kept its own counsel and the club feels it has no alternative but to make a formal complaint to the world governing body, which it has done today.

Former Manchester United and Real Madrid midfielder David Beckham has told Cristiano Ronaldo that Old Trafford is the best place for him.Beckham wore the number seven shirt for United before moving to Real, who have been pursuing Ronaldo following his blistering form over the last two seasons.

As a United fan, Beckham wants Ronaldo to stay but he also feels it is the right setting for him to progress even further as a player under boss Sir Alex Ferguson.

“I believe he’s at the right club and a club he should stay at because as much as Real Madrid are a great team and one of the biggest clubs in the world, he’s only just starting at Manchester United,” Beckham said.

“He’s only been there a few years. He’s got a lot of people around him who will protect him. As a fan of Manchester United I hope he stays there but who knows?”

Beckham added: “It’s none of my business. All I’m going to say to him is congratulations on an amazing season. I’m sure he’ll be crowned world player of the year and he deserves it.”