Joined
·
11,207 Posts
Ferguson anxious that Ronaldo doesn't leave United on a 'Webster'
http://sport.scotsman.com/football/Ferguson-anxious-that-Ronaldo-doesn39t.4652444.jp
Published Date: 02 November 2008
By Mark Ogden
SIR ALEX Ferguson has admitted that Cristiano Ronaldo's Manchester United future will reach a key stage next summer with the club likely to prepare a new contract for the Portuguese forward in an effort to prevent him exploiting the Webster ruling, and possibly leaving Old Trafford for just £12m, 12 months later.
The suspicion that Ronaldo is sulking over his failure to secure a move from United to Real during the summer is widespread and his on-field demeanour, which can be best described as moody, even surly, has done little to dispel the belief that he will make a play for the Old Trafford exit door again at the end of the season.
With Madrid making empty noises last week suggesting that they are no longer interested in pursuing Ronaldo, United would appear to be free to thrash out new terms for the player at their leisure. But with Ronaldo 18 months into a £125,000-a-week contract, United must tie him to a lengthier deal next summer or risk him buying out the final two years of his contract at the end of the 2009-10 campaign, triggering the Webster ruling – FIFA's Article 17 – that enables players to buy out their contracts and move on in the third year of their deal. The ruling has been named after Andy Webster, the Scotland defender who invoked the clause to engineer a move away from Hearts in 2006.
Ferguson said: "Next summer will be a key element of his (Ronaldo's] contract situation because he will have three years left then. That's comfortable enough, but I think the big clubs will shy away from that (Webster ruling] because it could happen to them, so I don't think it will be an issue. But I don't care two monkeys about Real Madrid to be honest with you. We have the player we want, they don't have the player they like. (Ramon] Calderon, the Real president, promised so much to get the lad and some of his comments were ridiculous. There was a complete arrogance about it all, so I was delighted that Ronaldo stayed. There was no question of Ronaldo leaving anyway, absolutely no question."
Second article:
NEW £150,000-A-WEEK CONTRACT FOR RONALDO
http://www.express.co.uk/football/view/69040/New-150-000-a-week-contract-for-Ronaldo
By John Richardson
Cristiano Ronaldo will be offered a new contract in the summer to extend his stay with Manchester United as the latest war of words between his club and Real Madrid erupts.
Boss Sir Alex Ferguson believes the Old Trafford hierarchy will tear up the £60million-rated Portuguese winger’s current £110,000-a-week deal next summer – which would still have three years to run – in favour of an extended £150,000-a-week agreement.
Ferguson knows from regular chats with chief executive David Gill that United are prepared to offer their coveted forward another lucrative deal once the season is over.
United feel that next summer is the crunch because if it was left another season Ronaldo (below) would have only two years left on his existing contract.
Under article 17 of FIFA’s transfer regulations players below the age of 28 can buy out their contracts making them free agents.
ut Ferguson insisted: “Nobody has ever bought themselves out. I believe the big clubs would definitely shy away from that because it could happen to them. I don’t think it will be an issue in football.” Ferguson’s confident prediction of a new deal for Ronaldo comes just days after angry Real president Ramon Calderon called the United manager senile and likened him to General Franco.
Last night Ferguson fired back insisting: “I don’t care two monkeys about our relationship with Real Madrid to be honest with you.
“We have the player we want. They don’t have the player they would like. All that is going on regarding Calderon is to do with the fact that they couldn’t get Cristiano.
“Calderon promised so much that he would get the lad. Some of his comments are ridiculous. There is a complete arrogance about it all.
“There was no question of Ronaldo leaving anyway, absolutely no question.”
Real Madrid’s recent public statement that the Spanish champions have no further interest in Ronaldo does not fool Ferguson.
He knows that behind the scenes the plotting has already begun to take the player to the Bernabeu at the first opportunity.
But the United boss warned: “Yes, it’s possible that these are the first shots of another attempt to get him. They do it all the time.
We’re ready.
“We have enough ammunition ready. I’m only using one gun at the moment. I’ll get the gatling gun out in January!”
- I love the bit where Fergie says he doesn't give two monkeys about the relationship with Madrid. That must be old man's speak for I don't give a flying f
Equally love the bit about him getting out the gatling gun in January.
Fire away, Fergie. Fire away!
http://sport.scotsman.com/football/Ferguson-anxious-that-Ronaldo-doesn39t.4652444.jp
Published Date: 02 November 2008
By Mark Ogden
SIR ALEX Ferguson has admitted that Cristiano Ronaldo's Manchester United future will reach a key stage next summer with the club likely to prepare a new contract for the Portuguese forward in an effort to prevent him exploiting the Webster ruling, and possibly leaving Old Trafford for just £12m, 12 months later.
The suspicion that Ronaldo is sulking over his failure to secure a move from United to Real during the summer is widespread and his on-field demeanour, which can be best described as moody, even surly, has done little to dispel the belief that he will make a play for the Old Trafford exit door again at the end of the season.
With Madrid making empty noises last week suggesting that they are no longer interested in pursuing Ronaldo, United would appear to be free to thrash out new terms for the player at their leisure. But with Ronaldo 18 months into a £125,000-a-week contract, United must tie him to a lengthier deal next summer or risk him buying out the final two years of his contract at the end of the 2009-10 campaign, triggering the Webster ruling – FIFA's Article 17 – that enables players to buy out their contracts and move on in the third year of their deal. The ruling has been named after Andy Webster, the Scotland defender who invoked the clause to engineer a move away from Hearts in 2006.
Ferguson said: "Next summer will be a key element of his (Ronaldo's] contract situation because he will have three years left then. That's comfortable enough, but I think the big clubs will shy away from that (Webster ruling] because it could happen to them, so I don't think it will be an issue. But I don't care two monkeys about Real Madrid to be honest with you. We have the player we want, they don't have the player they like. (Ramon] Calderon, the Real president, promised so much to get the lad and some of his comments were ridiculous. There was a complete arrogance about it all, so I was delighted that Ronaldo stayed. There was no question of Ronaldo leaving anyway, absolutely no question."
Second article:
NEW £150,000-A-WEEK CONTRACT FOR RONALDO
http://www.express.co.uk/football/view/69040/New-150-000-a-week-contract-for-Ronaldo
By John Richardson
Cristiano Ronaldo will be offered a new contract in the summer to extend his stay with Manchester United as the latest war of words between his club and Real Madrid erupts.
Boss Sir Alex Ferguson believes the Old Trafford hierarchy will tear up the £60million-rated Portuguese winger’s current £110,000-a-week deal next summer – which would still have three years to run – in favour of an extended £150,000-a-week agreement.
Ferguson knows from regular chats with chief executive David Gill that United are prepared to offer their coveted forward another lucrative deal once the season is over.
United feel that next summer is the crunch because if it was left another season Ronaldo (below) would have only two years left on his existing contract.
Under article 17 of FIFA’s transfer regulations players below the age of 28 can buy out their contracts making them free agents.
ut Ferguson insisted: “Nobody has ever bought themselves out. I believe the big clubs would definitely shy away from that because it could happen to them. I don’t think it will be an issue in football.” Ferguson’s confident prediction of a new deal for Ronaldo comes just days after angry Real president Ramon Calderon called the United manager senile and likened him to General Franco.
Last night Ferguson fired back insisting: “I don’t care two monkeys about our relationship with Real Madrid to be honest with you.
“We have the player we want. They don’t have the player they would like. All that is going on regarding Calderon is to do with the fact that they couldn’t get Cristiano.
“Calderon promised so much that he would get the lad. Some of his comments are ridiculous. There is a complete arrogance about it all.
“There was no question of Ronaldo leaving anyway, absolutely no question.”
Real Madrid’s recent public statement that the Spanish champions have no further interest in Ronaldo does not fool Ferguson.
He knows that behind the scenes the plotting has already begun to take the player to the Bernabeu at the first opportunity.
But the United boss warned: “Yes, it’s possible that these are the first shots of another attempt to get him. They do it all the time.
We’re ready.
“We have enough ammunition ready. I’m only using one gun at the moment. I’ll get the gatling gun out in January!”
- I love the bit where Fergie says he doesn't give two monkeys about the relationship with Madrid. That must be old man's speak for I don't give a flying f
Equally love the bit about him getting out the gatling gun in January.
Fire away, Fergie. Fire away!