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Cristiano Ronaldo to join Real Madrid for £80m
Andrew Hodgson11.06.09
Cristiano Ronaldo is on his way to Real Madrid after Manchester United accepted a world record bid of £80million for the Portugal forward.
United said today the 24-year-old had again expressed his desire to leave after defeat to Barcelona in the Champions League Final last month. New Madrid president Florentino Perez had already spent £59m on Kaka on Monday and then expressed his intention to bring the striker from the Premier League.
Ronaldo is currently on holiday in Los Angeles where he is recovering from a minor back injury.
He missed Portugal's 0-0 draw with Estonia in Talinn last night and may need a hernia operation before the new season starts.
Last summer was dominated by speculation about the winger's future with United constantly denying that the player was for sale.
Former Madrid president Ramon Calderon openly courted Ronaldo, drawing stinging criticism from Sir Alex Ferguson, who last December claimed he would not sell Madrid “a virus”.
But Ferguson has relented now when offered such a staggering amount of money. The club said today in a statement: “We have received a world-record, unconditional offer of £80m for Cristiano Ronaldo from Real Madrid.
“At Cristiano's request — who has again expressed his desire to leave — and after discussion with his representatives, United have agreed to give Real Madrid permission to talk to the player. Matters are expected to be concluded by 30 June.
The club will not comment until further notice.”
Madrid confirmed the news in a brief statement and said: “The club hope to reach an agreement with the player in the next few days.”
United will now target Bayern Munich's Franck Ribery and Wigan's Antonio Valencia as possible replacements for Ronaldo, who scored 118 goals for the club.
Reader views (37)
Stuart, London
Yet another London Liverpool fan still living in the past. The fact is when the bar was raised Liverpool weren't up to it. At least we made it to the final of the CL unlike your mob who did their usual end of season collapsing act. Being envious, Stuart, only eats your soul away, so four deep breaths, now.
- James, manchester
No one is worth that much money and the amount paid is obscene. I am surprised at Real Madrid being prepared to spend that kind of money. They are a great team and don't need any better than they have got. Viva Espana. !
T H Leeds
- Thomas Hayes, Leeds UK
Yes, to get rid of him!
- John Punshon, Milton Keynes, England
he will sell shirts, thats about all he will do.
- Jaberwokie, Switzerland
There are players that it is easy to like. Messi is one. Ronaldo is not. People revered Zidane, loved Cantona. Milanos reall feel the departure of Kaka, but very few have taken Ronaldo to their heart, but that's ok because he loves himself enough to compensate for the lack elsewhere.
- Alex C, London
Well, Well , Well- here we go again. Ronaldo is a great player, noone can deny that, however, in my opinion, he is short term gain for long term pain. He has yet to mature whlst on the field , he is rampant and lacks personality. Frankly, he bores me! There are better players e.g Kaka who , not only is he priceless , but he has charisma on the field and a thorough gentleman. Messi by far is worth more than Ronaldo . Others e,g Pato, ingzhagi, lampard, nistlerooy, maldini, etc etc are far better in every dept. Consistency is more important and Ronaldo in my opinion, is just a small baby, needs to grow up and learn from others. he has failed recently with portugal who may not even qualify for the world cup.Good riddance , out of england !
- Shafique Motani, toronto, canada.
We can now expect Beckham to put himself forward for millions to add to his and her, considerable fortune. All that money for just kicking a ball around for 90 minutes.bet the NHS could do with some of it.
- Thomas Hayes, Leeds UK
Man Utd. will not need to play any more matches to make money for with that amount, they can now afford to close the ground and live happily ever after.
T H Leeds
- Thomas Hayes, Leeds UK
arr, James, Manchester, back to boasting about the Premiership are we after you so dismally failed to win the European Cup after being so outclassed. Tevez next to go. Funny how most of Man U's titles have come since the Premiership started. Liverpool didn't need Murdoch's Millions to win it all those times.
- Stuart, London
Selling people is as old as the hills.
Everyone in the lower classes was owned by someone else throughout history.
And it was not only slaves that were owned; everyone working on the land in England was owned by their landlords, lords, the crown, or the church etc.
So selling people is nothing new; and £80 million is a fair price; if I had a dozen people worth that much I would sell them all.
Some are worth more than others of course.
I know the Labour Government has been selling its people off cheap for years; I am sure most would sell their mothers off as well; if it was allowed under House of Commons Regulations and rules etc.
Any player that plays in the Premiership; will command a high transfer fee; this is one reason why foreign players want to play here; it catapults them into star status, from mediocre status.
One star player doesn’t make a winning team.
- Mickyinlondon, london
Like any other business, money talks and it has just screamed, Ronaldo is the best and most expensive player in the world and united's coffers over flows.Put that in your pipes and smoke it all you envious cockneys.United are about to make your worst dream a nightmare by buying yet another two or three world class players and still have money to spare. Roll on premiership number 12.
- James, manchester
Not a Man Utd fan, but he is not a team player, just sulks, great price for a sulker...
Remember when Berbatov was at Spurs last season and he stressed he wanted to join Man U!
This is why we need young british players to be playing instead of these players who don't want to play here!
- Adrian, london
Joe, London - because whilst undoubtably a talented player, her chooses to cheat a lot. Ergo, he gets grief.
Simple really
- Joe, Romford
I presume the next Man U annoncement will be "Mr Fergie" is going to retire, he might just as well!!!
- Col, west london
why is everyone havign a go at the "star" player. Is it he who puts 80 million on his head???
- Joe, London
I agree that the figures involved in this transfer are obscene and nobody is worth that amount of money.
But to all those crying about all the starving millions who are going without, while this sort of money is bandied around in the world of football. Do they really believe that if football as an industry ended tomorrow that all the club owners, investors, shareholders, fans, agents etc etc etc would just donate these ghastly sums to charity instead? Of course not.
That money only exists because the industry exists. There would be far more people on the bread line if it weren't for the sports industry. All the merchandisers, caterers, security guards, PR people, TV crews etc. All ordinary people who don't see anywhere near the sums that the footballers get paid but all of whom benefit from the existence of such a multi-billion pound industry.
Why don't you wake up from the dream world you're living in?! The world wouldn't be all sunshine and roses if we gave up capitalism and consumerism. It'd just mean a whole lot more people would be worse off.
- Steven, London
What good news for our Premier League referees one less diver to worry about?
- Mike M, Bedford England
So,all the defenders in the premier league can now breath easey again! They wont be terrorised by this phenomenon of a player.
Good luck but im sad to see him go.
- Serafim, London
For another 20m they could of brought Newcastle.
- Tony, London
how many bellies would be filled with the money Ronaldo is paid alone! - Graham Rodhouse, Helmond, Netherlands
It is not the money paid to superstar footballers, or film stars or rock stars which leads to millions starving. Their wages are trivial compared to government coffers.
People starve and die of disease due to lack of political will, pure and simple.
- Paul, Dover
I am sure many will miss his kamikaze style of football dive dive dive
- Gary, Brentwood 2
Despite the ga-ga econmomics of the deal, the Premier League will be poorer without him - and I'm not, despite living in Kent, a MU fan !!
- Paul, Kent
Graham - presumably you are equally critical of F1 drivers, NBA basketball players, NFL Stars & grossly overpaid Movie stars??? Why do these 'stars' not get berated in the same way. footballers have a skill and are at the peak of their industry. Get over it
- Jk, UK
Still, the best thing to come out of this is that diving, play acting and 'looking like you're about to cry every time you get tackled and that nasty referee doesn't give a free kick in your favour' will be down by at least 200,000% in the Premier League next season...
- Joe, Romford
Best thing for british football. Great big falling down girly has gone yippeee
- Ge, Kernow
depsite his diving & petulance. As an attacking force the premiership will be a poorer spectacle without him. Imagine United will now be interested in Young, Ribery or Robben perhaps??
- Nc, UK
This must have caused a stir in Surrey this morning.
- Paxton Pat, London
For goodness sake, Joe of London, nobody is worth that sort of money for kicking a bag of wind around. You, and other supporters like you, need a reality check. You make heroes out of professional footballers, but they are nothing of the sort. Just think of the starving millions in this world and how many bellies would be filled with the money Ronaldo is paid alone! Think!
- Graham Rodhouse, Helmond, Netherlands
"But what these people have to ask themselves is how has this happened? I mean, all I know is that someone told me the boy just wants to come here and play football"
H Redknapp, 5 minutes ago
- Joe, Romford
Graham Rodhouse - silly money for silly footballer? you mean world footballer of the year? 40 goals last season and over 20 goals this season including his assists and technical ability? wake up mate. his worth every penny.
- Joe, London
A ridiculous amount for a player,what would Messi cost??
when some clubs are going bust owing a few hundred k,this shows footy is in lala land,an 80 million transfer before wages and spin offs is pure madness..mind you Utd must be laughing,pay bit of debt off and get 3 world class players in.What must Rafa be thinking now??
- Evs, herts
That god for that - good riddance. He may be a very talented footballer but hes also a cheat and arrogant. Real Madrid obviously have more money than sense and Man U will be laughing all the way to the bank.
- A, London
Haha, delighted. Go on Ronaldo get lost. Though why he's getting £80M is beyond me.
- S-M Hearmon, London, UK
Silly money for a silly footballer (if that´s what he is). The truth is, Man United and English football will be better off without this immature prima donna. I doubt if there will be many tears shed at Old Trafford.
- Graham Rodhouse, Helmond, Netherlands
How revoltingly obscene and with so many starving in the world. And all just to win some meaningless cup. Cheque book football.
- Mel Barrows., Tenerife. Canary Islands.
any comments, Mr Platini?
- Paul, Feltham
I think it's great that he going to play in Spain, his diving was getting very rusty playing in the UK, at least he'll get some good practice in now.
- Bob, Cheam
