Manchester United have accepted a world-record offer of £80m for Cristiano Ronaldo from Real Madrid.The Premier League champions made the agreement after Ronaldo - the reigning world footballer of the year - requested the move, United's website said.
Real Madrid have now been granted permission to discuss the move with the 24-year-old, which United believe will be concluded by June 30.
The remarkable bid comes just days after the Spanish giants signed Brazilian Kaka from AC Milan for a then-world record sum, maginally short of £57.5m.
Former United manager Tommy Doherty told Sky News the deal was good news for United, but a further indication "the game's gone mad".
"If I was Alex Ferguson I would cut their hands off and run," he said.
Former United player Clayton Blackmore agreed it was best for his former club to let their star winger leave.
"If Cristiano Ronaldo wants to go, he will not be in a good state of mind and it isn't good for the team," he told Sky News.
But he said the Portuguese international should take heed if he thinks he can turn around the fortunes of Real Madrid, who ended last season trophyless.
"I remember a few years ago, they have six or seven world-class players and they couldn't win anything," he said.
"You don't automatically win cups when you move to a new club."
News of the World sports editor Paul McCarthy said although Ronaldo will leave the Premier League as a "fantastic player", he failed to match the top bracket of players in the division's history.
"His goals and his exploits will live long in the memory," he told Sky News.
"But I do not think he has had a massive impact on the Premier League - not as big as Alan Shearer and Thierry Henry - and I think that Manchester United will be able to move on."
Football agent Rachel Anderson said the deal was "good business all round".
That includes his agent, Jorge Mendes, whom she added could expect around £8m for his role in the transfer.
The move looks to be secured a year after the clubs had dramatically fallen out amid Madrid's first attempt to sign the player.
Ronaldo was reported to have demanded a move to Spain, but saw his appeals rebuffed.
Any attempt to resurrect the deal appeared to have passed when United manager Sir Alex Ferguson said there was "no chance" of a move, famously adding that he wouldn't sell Madrid "a virus".
Madrid confirmed the news in a brief statement, adding that they hoped to finalise matters as soon as possible.
"Real Madrid confirm they have made an offer to Manchester United for the acquisition of the rights of the player Cristiano Ronaldo," the statement said.
"The club hope to reach an agreement with the player in the next few days."
Portugals Cristiano Ronaldo reacts during the 2010 World Cup qualifying soccer match against Albania at Qemal Stafa stadium in Tirana June 6, 2009. REUTERS
Well it has finally happened. Manchester United have accepted a world record offer of £80m from Real Madrid for Cristiano Ronaldo.
“Manchester United have received a world-record, unconditional offer of £80million for Cristiano Ronaldo from Real Madrid. At Cristiano’s request — who has again expressed his desire to leave — and after discussion with the player’s representatives, United have agreed to give Real Madrid permission to talk to the player. Matters are expected to be concluded by June 30. The club will not comment until further notice.”
There had been reports that Madrid would have to pay a £26m penalty clause to Ronaldo as a consequence of an alleged “pre-contract” arrangement that had been agreed with the player’s representative Jorge Mendes, if the Spanish club did not sign him this summer.
British newspaper report sat that the transfer fee would be made available for United manager Sir Alex Ferguson to invest in the transfer market. Combined with the usual £20-30m that United spend each season, that would mean that Fergie will have over £100m to strengthen his squad this off-season. Expect big name signings with Franck Ribery (£50m from Bayern Munich), Carlos Tevez (£25m) and Antonio Valencia (£10m from Wigan) expected to eat up most of that transfer budget.
It has been a huge week for Madrid with the signings of Kaka (£62m) and now Ronaldo (£80m). I believe that their first games for Madrid will be in Toronto on August 7th.
In a brief statement issued on the club website this morning, United confirmed that they have accepted Real’s offer, while stipulating that the deal must be wrapped up by June 30.
The statement said: “Manchester United have received a world-record, unconditional offer of £80million for Cristiano Ronaldo from Real Madrid.
“At Cristiano’s request - who has again expressed his desire to leave - and after discussion with the player’s 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.
Having failed to prise Ronaldo away from Old Trafford last summer, Real have now stunned United with the size of their offer for the 24 year-old, who cost the Premier League champions £12.2m as a 17-year-old from Sporting Lisbon in 2003.
Ronaldo has done little to hide his desire to play for Real and his behaviour towards the end of last season, when he reacted angrily to being substituted against Manchester City at Old Trafford, highlighted cracks in his relationship with manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
Despite United’s decision to sell, Ferguson insisted last December that he “wouldn’t sell a virus to that mob” when asked about selling Ronaldo to Real.
And just last month, United chief executive David Gill suggested that Ronaldo would not be leaving Old Trafford at any price.
Gill said: “We have never had that discussion (about Ronaldo’s future) because there has been absolutely no point having that discussion.
“We made it clear last year that he is on a long-term contract with us. He is not for sale. He is a great player and he is part of our club.”
Ronaldo’s dissatisfaction at Old Trafford and the size of Real’s offer have forced United to accept Real’s bid, however.
As a club with debts approaching £700m, the money set to be received for Ronaldo proved too much to turn down, but much of that money is now likely to be reinvested in new signings.
A permanent deal for Carlos Tevez will top the agenda, but moves for Wigan’s Antonio Valencia and Lyon forward Karim Benzema will now be the focus of Ferguson following Ronaldo’s likely exit.
Manchester United have accepted a world-record offer of £80m for Cristiano Ronaldo from Real Madrid. Ronaldo has been angling for a move to his boyhood club since last summer The Premier League champions made the agreement after Ronaldo - the reigning world footballer of the year - requested the move, United’s website said. Real Madrid have now been granted permission to discuss the move with the 24-year-old, which United believe will be concluded by June 30. The remarkable bid comes just days after the Spanish giants signed Brazilian Kaka from AC Milan for a then-world record sum, maginally short of £57.5m. Former United manager Tommy Doherty told Sky News the deal was good news for United, but a further indication “the game’s gone mad”. “If I was Alex Ferguson I would cut their hands off and run,” he said. Ronaldo following defeat in Europe Former United player Clayton Blackmore agreed it was best for his former club to let their star winger leave. “If Cristiano Ronaldo wants to go, he will not be in…
World Record Transfer Fee
The 80m transfer fee for Ronaldo means that Real Madrid have smashed the world record in transfer fees twice in the space of a week, with Kaka signing for a reported £56m from AC Milan earlier this month. The previous world record fee was £45.6m Real paid for Zinedine Zidane in 2001. The move also eclipses the Manchester United and English Premier League transfer records (£30m for Berbatov and £32 million for Robinho, both deals going through on the last day of last year’s summer transfer window.
Manchester United to move for Ribery?
Ronaldo’s departure could have a direct impact on another winger’s future, with Manchester United having talked to Bayern Munich last month about bringing in Frank Ribery in case Ronaldo was to depart to Madrid. United’s interest is now expected to intensify, although they will face competition from Chelsea and Barcelona. This time though, they can at least call upon a significant amount of the 80m transfer fee and could easily outspend their two rivals.
Apart from Cristiano Ronaldo there’s also the case of Carlos Tevez, who has seemingly made up his mind to leave Manchester United despite a late intervention by Alex Ferguson himself in a direct phone call to the player. Tevez’s first priority to stay in England, with Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool all reported to have shown interest in the forward.
Tevez set to leave Manchester United
Manchester United still have the option of first refusal on Carlos Tevez, although once their loan deal expires on 30th June Tevez will be a free agent and United will then be faced with the prospects of replacing two world class players. Manchester United have been linked with Benzema as a potential replacement for Tevez and if they can bring in Franck Ribery and Karim Benzema as replacements, the fans will be more than happy with the summer transfer window.
Now if only some one could fix Owen Hargreaves…
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