Cesc Fabregas has confessed today that the former Real Madrid president, Ramon Calderon, contacted him by phone to enquire about his future.
After the obsession Real Madrid, in particular Calderon, had with Cristiano Ronaldo, it’s hard to believe that he wasn’t tapped up too!
“It’s true the president of Real Madrid called me personally – we spoke on the phone,” said Fabregas. “But I never gave him my word that I was going to sign for Real Madrid. He asked about my progress and that was it.”
Whilst Fabregas proved his loyalty to Arsenal by not taking things any further, he can’t paint himself as an angel in this situation. There is no reason why Calderon should have had Fabregas’ number and for him to receive a phone call at all suggests there was at least some curiosity on the Spaniard’s part over what Real Madrid had to offer.
However, it makes me think that if Calderon has even contacted Fabregas, who certainly will enjoy a return to sender move back to Real Madrid’s bitter rivals Barcelona sooner or later, then surely he will have had phone conversations with Ronaldo.
Ronaldo made it clear in the summer, before his U-turn, that he wanted to go to Real Madrid. For him to state this whilst under contract with another club shows that he must be fairly confident that a deal would have gone through. Whilst one could argue Ronaldo needed no personal assurances of Real’s interest, given the daily praise he received from Spain in the summer, it certainly makes you think if Calderon had the nerve to give Fabregas a bell, he would have definitely had a word or two with Ronnie!
Modern football, eh.
Man Utd News 24/7
Calderon should never ever be let near football ever
How did he get Cesc nastygas’s phone # ?
is anyone shocked or surprised at this? its hardly earthshattering that this goes on in football, and it’d be naive to think, that as a club, we aren’t in the ear of some players around the world. lets think about that before we start slating other clubs for doing it just cos they are doing to our players. its shitty, but thats football…..some clubs are just a bit more subtle and not all players are media whores.
Not surprising, but that doesnt mean we have to put up with it. Its not a grey area or a matter of ‘all clubs doing it’. There is a world of difference between an open approach and a back doortap up.
Fabregas is right to speak openly about it because he has nothing to hide. It shows Calderon up to be a spiv, which is why he fits so well with Blatter and his henchmen.
John Ferry //
How hard can it be? He was the president of a major football club.
I’d lie to know how Calderon got Fabregas’ no. too.
It’s hardly shocking and I dont think anyone is surprised, however it’s time our clubs got together and put in a complaint against this moron and the lot from Barca.
As for phone numbers, well he is Spanish!
Why are people surprised he got his number? Couldnt Calderon simply call the coach of the Spanish national team or any one of the million people he knows who would know cesc’s number and ask?
Is there any rules about tapping up players under contract? The way people openly talk about it I guess there is not…
Wow that was ground breaking journalism. The whole pointless article could have been summed up in one short sentence:
“Calderon spoke to Fabregas over the phone hence it is very likely he spoke to Ronaldo as well.”
Is that special for RM having Cesc’s number? At least he has teammates in Spanish National team, who are playing for RM, any of them should have his number.
And is that a common and proper manner to greet with a person in the same profession with you when they call you, even you are competitors and hate each other? Football is no other than any business.
I cannot find where comes the conclusion “he can’t paint himself as an angel”. Has Cesc ever been trying to paint himself an angle? He said “if boss ask me to stay, I will stay.” And Wenger once said that he wish Cesc will play for us for another 10 years.
Talking about “promise and commitment”, that’s enough for me.
CR7 or his agent have surely spoken with calderon.but Fergie wouldnt even sell them a ‘virus’. lol
Obviously there is nothing wrong when Calderon does it Tony Starks.And i think that he might run yet again for president.I might be wrong on this.
Jasm – groundbreaking journalism? On a blog about United why would I even attempt such a thing? A blog is here to post news, thoughts and opinions and that’s what this is article is all about. I’m not going for the Pulitzer Prize here. Dick.
It was probably his agent who gave Calderon the number. Either that or one of Cesc’s teamates in the Spain squad at Madrid; Ramos or Casillas maybe. Still, its disappointing to see Calderon up to his old tricks again.
Is that tapping him up? He spoke on the phone and asked about his progress, not to sign for Madrid. Wenger bumped into Hinery on a flight whilst he was still at Juve and apparently told him he saw him as a centre forward not a winger(which he was at the time) is that tapping up? This kind of stuff must go on all the time.
Henry not Hinery
Wenger doesn’t have a bad record of tapping up Gooner 77.I always give him that.Calderon has a track record of chasing players while they belong to other clubs.
calderon was so obsessed with ronadlo he woulda slept with him if he had the chance
Anderson picked up an injury with Brazil.He has a thigh strain.No word on how long he will be out.Only 2 midfielders left for Saturday.
I meant Sunday
If it was Sir Alex calling some Real or Barca player, I’m 200% sure ‘Michelle’ Platini would be on the front page of every newspaper lamenting that the ‘English’ disease must be stopped! In fact, I put out a bet here & now.
Sepp Blater would also weigh in with a few gems.
Costas – Should be ok, we can play Fletch, Carrick, Ronaldo,Park and even Giggsy across the middle.
King Eric: Fletch & Carrick in midfield, but Giggsy will surely start upfront with Tevez.Gibson is likely to be on the bench
There are options,but most likely one of the two midfielders will have to start against Porto 2 days later as well.I haven’t heard about Anderson from anyone else.Could it be Skysports’ joke of the day?
Costas – Was Anderson’s injury supposedly picked up in training because as far as I am aware Brazil didn’t play yesterday?
Yes King Eric it was in Monday’s training session.Setanta have also picked up on it so it’s for real.If it’s just for the Villa game,then i am ok.We do want him back for Porto and Sunderland though.
Henry used to play for Wenger and they bumped in to each other on a plane.
Calderon and Fabregas have no relationship and Calderon went out of his way to get Fabregas’ number and call him up.
The situations are NOT comparable.