Selling Cristiano Ronaldo for £80m will be the best bit of business any football club will ever do. We paid a fraction of that for him, we won three league titles, a European Cup, an FA Cup and two League Cups with him scoring in the finals of all of those competitions, and when he was ready to leave, we still made a massive profit on him. Genius.
Ronaldo has today praised the impact of Sir Alex Ferguson on his career, claiming that the manager instilled the passion for football in him and owes him everything.
“I have said many times that it is the relationship a son has with a father,” said Ronaldo. “He respects me and I respect him and when one of us is talking, the other one listens. It is not a one-sided relationship. We both hear each other out and that is why we have got on so well. He taught me everything about football and I have never met a man who is so passionate about the game after so many years. He instilled that passion into me and he made me a winner. The most important thing he taught me is that second place is not an option. He also taught me lots of things in order to make me a better person and people might not understand how much time he invests in players off the pitch. But he really does and he cares about each and every one of us.”
Ronaldo went as far as saying he wish he never had to part ways with the manager and recalls the conversation with Ferguson which lead to him wearing the number seven shirt.
“In an ideal world, I would like him to be my life coach and for me to never leave him but that is not possible and I just have to continue my journey and hold on to what he has taught me,” he continued. “Sir Alex has shown so much confidence in me and for that I owe him everything. When I arrived – even though I did not want it – he insisted I have number seven on my shirt. I was very adamant that I did not want it. Then, he sat me down and told me about the history of the number seven and said…’do you understand what I am trying to say to you? I think you will be worthy of wearing this shirt.’ When I think of the greats who have worn that United shirt, I understood how much confidence he had in me. And I hope now that I am another Manchester United great who wore the most famous shirt at the club.”
Man Utd News 24/7
He had some good words to say about the fans as well.Oh well.I guess,that after a devorce,the two parties become very civilized.Fair play to him for those comments.A year ago,i would have thought that Ronaldo would have shown more class than Tevez on his way out.Ronnie good luck in your personal life.Nothing more.
the last line made me chuckle a bit.
Unless down the line he comes back to OT for a few years, I don’t think he is going to acquire the stature of Best, Robson, Cantona or Beckham.
Or maybe he will? You never know
Well it’s a great piece of buisness but it’ll be hard to fill the boots. It’s great to see that he’s not stupid enough to start lashing out on the club and manager who made him the player he is, he still seems to have huge respect for both thankfullly.
Barca for the La Liga title next year… I can never wish a Real player good luck… ever.
“And I hope now that I am another Manchester United great who wore the most famous shirt at the club”.
Maybe if you stayed for a few more years, you would’ve been considered as a legend. You are a “great” footballer, but not a manchester united “great”. Anyway, farewell. Good luck in your career.
Exactly.He is a great.Just not a legend.
He never even hinted at that kind of respect to Ferguson last summer.
Fair play to Ronaldo, Scott. My feelings about him mirror yours, but since the bid has been accepted he is making the right noises and being very respectful of United and Fergie, claiming that there were only ever 2 clubs for him, Real and United (that he would play for – as a youngster he supported Benfica apparently), and that United are the only team he could ever play for in England.
I think I’ll soften now he’s gone. Best of luck, Ronnie, you’ve got your dream move, and given us some great service (and a lotta bullshit). Cheers
At last some praise for those who helped him become the player he is today. Though you get the feeling that he’s never been in love with the club and its history. he talks about fergie, the number 7 shirt… but never about MANCHESTER UNITED.
If we meet Real at any point in the CL in the future, and Ronnie manages to score an own goal, i will forgive him.
You know, over the last 24 hours i have heard that the move was in the works for a full year and that he would like SAF to manage his life.Why the hell did he act like that when he was taken off against City?I still can’t figure that one out.The move to Real wasn’t in jeopardy and his father figure took him off to rest him.I hope he really regrets some of the stuff that happened this year.He will need that kind of maturity in the circus he is going.
Wow. That was quite… nice of him?
I miss it.
That picture makes me sad.
I want it to be the moscow final everyday
Legends do NOT miss the really,really important penalties.
ROJO RED ROT ROUGE:Bit harsh,that one.He did score 42 goals that season,after all.
Rojo – That rules Paul Scholes out of the legend category then.
Well said,Scott.
i always thought roberto baggio was a legend….. lols
Ronnie: Thanks for the memories.
I’ve heard these quotes before. He said this before the deal was made. REgardless, it’s not shocking he feels this way: he’s not leaving United because he doesn’t like it there, but rather he just wants to really play for Madrid. Personally, I think professionalism and sportsmanship are two important qualities in a player, both in which he lacks. Sure in skill he’s a great, but overall?
Theres no way Ronaldo said that!!!!What’s wrong with the lad?
Does he go down as a legend? He won a few awards other number 7 never even came close to .. talented young man .. finally sinking in he is no longer with us .. T
For most of us to rank Beckham above Ronaldo in terms of status, shows how much of a love-hate relationship we have with Ronaldo, even if he is more talented and successful than Beckham. Same thoughts here, great player, but not a legend. He could have been nearer the legend status had we beaten Barca
I Certainly rate beckham higher than ronaldo and if i had the choice of becks when he was 23 & ronaldo 23 to partner giggs on the flanks it would be beckham every time!!!
Beckham loves united, Ronaldo loves himself!
@Rojo: that also rules out Baggio as well
Ronaldo is immature and may never realize the mistake he made. Footballers live in a different reality today, and growing up in that environment stuns your emotional/psychological development. I almost pity the boy…he doesn’t know what he is getting into at madrid.
madrid will fail him and he will return to OT
viva ronaldo
Costas put it best, a great wothout doubt but a legend?? Naaaah
*Sigh*
You could have done so much more here Ronny…good luck.
He should havew stayed at least two more years. Maybe then he would have become a legend.
He had six fantastic years at OT. He is and will be a breathtaking player. Mayb we are all just a bit sour at the fact that he left us for another team. But I still think he is a United legend. He has done enough for the club over the years.
Best luck to Ronnie for the future.
parth312 – He is NOT a United legend. Legends have some grasp what our History is and what it means to pull on the red shirt. This self centred cunt has no idea. Cracking player but no legend.
There is no way he has done enough to be a legend – I still can’t believe he spent more time at OT than Le Roi…
Fair play to him, those are some very nice things to say about SAF, but he seems to have ‘grass is greener’ syndrome…
Hopefully he wakes up within a couple of years and comes back to OT!!!
Muggaz – It turns out he has NOT said those things. His agent has said that the News of the World article was a fabrication and he has not done ANY interviews yet. Thought it was too good to be true. Cunt.