Cristiano Ronaldo will pick up a staggering £26m if Real Madrid do not sign him by the end of the month, it was claimed last night.

Former Madrid president Ramon Calderon reportedly promised the Ronaldo camp last summer he would do whatever it took to sign the Manchester United winger.

And that means Madrid could have to pay £80m to trigger an alleged buy-out clause in his contract.

Calderon was so confident of landing the 24-year-old, he agreed to pay him 30m Euros (£26m) if a deal was not clinched by the end of June. Ronaldo’s agent, Jorge Mendes, it is claimed in several Spanish newspapers, is said to have agreed to pay the same amount to Real if his client backed out of the move.

Serbian winger Zoran Tosic hopes to use the European U21 Championships as a springboard for his United career.

The 22-year-old has made two fleeting first team appearances since arriving from Partizan Belgrade in January, but has spent the majority of the last six month's acclimatizing in the Reds' Reserves.

As an integral part of the Serbia team contesting its fifth successive championships this summer, however, Tosic is aiming to go into the 2009/10 season on a personal high.

"I can't wait for it to start," Zoran told UEFA's official website. "It will be a very good experience to play in the championship again and I'm very happy because of that.

"The championship is very good experience for every young player. I have to practice, to get stronger, to get faster, to be better in all aspects and I feel the U21 championship will help me and I can prove I'm a United player."

Dark horses Serbia begin their Group A campaign against much-fancied Italy on 16 June, before facing Sweden and Belarus, and Tosic is confident his nation can upset the odds and take the title home.

"The people from Serbia expect us to do well and we hope we can, but it is one thing to talk about winning, we have to go there and prove we are the best," he said. "What is important is how you come into the game. If you are concentrated and every player wants to win that is all that is important, not names."

While debate raged over the relative merits of Berbatov and Tevez and their roles in the front line, no one questioned the inclusion of one Reds striker...

Wayne Rooney may have operated in a number of roles in 2008/09, but it didn't stop him being hugely effective for the Reds, playing at full throttle with spectacular scoring bursts and all-action displays. And despite seeing the red mist at Fulham, his maturity was influential in United's success.

Start to finish: With Cristiano Ronaldo injured and Dimitar Berbatov yet to arrive, United started the season with Rooney shouldering the attacking responsibility along with Carlos Tevez. It took Wayne a few weeks to get into the scoring groove but, as ever, when he found his range he was utterly devastating. In the autumn we were treated to a scoring streak of nine in seven matches in all competitions, a spell Rooney admitted was the best form of his career. But an unfortunate by-product of his uncompromising attitude is always the risk of injury and in mid-January Wayne damaged his hamstring after just eight minutes of the Wigan home match – having scored the only goal of the game after 54 seconds. He returned after six weeks out and was immediately back in the goals, netting against Fulham and Blackburn in the space of four days, and continued to exert considerable influence as the Reds marched relentlessly to a third successive title.

In position: Wazza famously will play in any position in training and fancies himself as one of the best goalkeepers at the club, and while his versatility doesn’t stretch quite that far on matchdays, he’s willing to perform whichever role the manager feels necessary. Sometimes used up front on his own, increasingly he starts off on the left side, and while it may not be his preferred position, he’ll perform his role with nothing less than 100 per cent.

Season highlights: Wayne's tally of 20 goals in all competitions including the winner in the FIFA Club World Cup final. In the league, the 5-2 thriller at home to Spurs will live long in the memory and while Tevez’s high-impact substitute appearance was the comeback’s catalyst, Rooney was at the centre of everything, scoring two, making two and setting up Michael Carrick for the penalty shout that started it all off.

Vital contribution: Coming from Merseyside, Rooney fully understands the importance of derby days, and this season he was delighted to score the decisive goal away at City.

Any lows: His injury aside, the sending off against Fulham was harsh, but was another bleak moment in a nightmare seven days.

Any other business: The nation’s journalists recognised Rooney’s contribution this season, voting him third in their Footballer of the Year poll.

FABIO CAPELLO is such a success because he makes football simple.

And it does not get any simpler than his dealings with Manchester United star Wayne Rooney.

Asked before tonight's World Cup qualifier at home to Andorra how he had turned Rooney into such a prolific goal-scorer for England, Capello replied: "I told him to stand in front of the goal!"

There you go, cracked it. Get one of the world's best strikers to position himself in the penalty box in line with that rectangle with netting at the back and... bingo!

Capello has always had huge faith in Rooney's talent but recognises the United man is prone to drifting from where he ought to be.

He wants Rooney spending more time in the area where goals are scored from.

"Obvious, you would have thought. But it has taken Capello to bang it into the player's head.

The result has been eight goals in Rooney's last six England appearances, including an acrobatic finish in Kazakhstan during Saturday's 4-0 win.

Capello said: "Rooney needs confidence to score goals but the last year, not only in the national team but also with United, Rooney arrives more times in front of the goal and this is important.

"Before, Rooney didn't go in front of goal, he stayed away from the goal. But if you want to score goals, you need him in front of goal. I've spoken to him and told him this.

"Now you can see Rooney in positions to score whenever someone crosses.

"The percentage of Premier League goals scored from within 10 metres in front of goal are 75 or 80 per cent. If you want to score, it's better to go into this position. Now, Rooney always goes there."

Skipper John Terry supports Capello's point. He said: "One thing the manager stresses to us is that, at certain times, we've got in really good wide positions and then he freezes the frame and there are only two people in the box.

"He wants people busting their guts to get on the end of things, then turn around and run 50 yards regaining our shape. It's a lot of work but we enjoy doing that work.

"Wayne has matured so much as a player and is so clever, footballing-wise.

"There's no one more natural than him in the world at the moment, especially in England.

"He causes so many problems for defenders. I love that hunger he's got, the way he flings himself into tackles. We all love that passion he shows."

Rooney, 23, should be adding to his tally this evening.

Andorra are hopeless, despite the fact they can take time to break down. They lost 5-1 to Belarus at the weekend.

David Beckham is likely to come into central midfield to replace the suspended Gareth Barry.

And Becks' mate Gary Neville could make a first England appearance in more than two years at right-back because Capello is concerned Glen Johnson might get booked and be ruled out of the tougher test against Croatia in September.

Nani believes Manchester United already have enough quality in their squad to cope with the imminent departure of Cristiano Ronaldo.

The 22-year-old struck up a good friendship with his countryman upon joining the Red Devils from Sporting Lisbon, the same club where Ronaldo began his career, in the summer of 2007.

That friendship could be split up after United accepted a world record bid for Ronaldo from Real Madrid on Thursday.

The Premier League champions are set to receive £80million for the current World Player of the Year and subsequently have been linked with moves for the likes of Franck Ribery and Karim Benzema.

However Nani, who had a disappointing season at Old Trafford last term, believes the squad is already strong enough to cope with the loss of Ronaldo.

"Cristiano's departure is not impossible to fix," he said.

"He will be missed but United have other players who can replace him."

Former United stars deliver their verdicts on Ronaldo

It's the transfer story of the summer - but is Cristiano Ronaldo's proposed £80million move to Real Madrid good business for Manchester United?

On Thursday morning the Old Trafford club revealed they had accepted a world record bid for the Portuguese star and a deal is set to be completed by the end of the month.

Ronaldo's future at United has been the subject of constant speculation, with Real having trailed his signature for the last three summers and despite his talent, there have been constant rumours that he has been causing unrest in the dressing room.

So does an £80million sale represent good business for Manchester United? Will the end of the speculation be good for the team? Will Ferguson have replacements lined up? Or is the FIFA World Player of the Year simply irreplaceable.

Sky Sports News was all over the story as soon as it broke and some of the biggest names in football gave us their views on the news. Here is what they had to say...
Tommy Docherty (Man Utd manager, 1972-77)

I think Sir Alex has come to the conclusion - and he's quite right - to get rid of him because the same problem's going to arise next year and the year after. I sit at home giggling sometimes when managers say a player is "not for sale at any price" - and a fortnight later he's gone. Every player has got a price and if a club is prepared to pay that price then he will go.

If you fall out with Sir Alex, you're on you're bike. You can't have this disharmony brought upon the players and the club every year and I think United will cut their hands off for £80million and give Real Madrid the problem of handling Ronaldo from now on. I think it's fantastic business; it was £40million, then £50million and now it's £80million. I think they should cut their hands off and run - and don't even consider it at all.

Tony Gale (Sky Sports expert)

I don't think it's good business. If you're going to let someone go - and it must have come as a bit of a surprise to Sir Alex - you normally get someone in beforehand. What they're effectively doing is letting every club in the world know they've got £80million sitting in the bank, so the price of (Antonio)Valencia or (Franck) Ribery or whoever they decide to replace him with has automatically gone up. It's not United business and I don't think Sir Alex will be pleased with this one bit.

We all thought United were bigger than this, we all thought United could keep hold of a player that was worth this amount of money. It just shows you that everyone needs the money at the moment.

Mickey Thomas (Man Utd player, 1978-81)

Eighty million is a lot of money for any player and I don't think the club could turn that down. I'm sure that Sir Alex Ferguson knew this was coming and has a replacement in hand. You have to move on now and they have moved on before; Cantona's gone, Keane's gone, Beckham's gone - and United have always gone from strength to strength. Without question Ronaldo's one of the best players in the world, last season wasn't a great season by any means, but he's still a player you want in your side week in week out.

I think the fans are sick of it because I'm sick of all the speculation. Is he staying? Is he going? I don't think it's good for the dressing room and now it's done and dusted I'm very pleased because United have to move on and keep winning trophies.

Paddy Crerand (Man Utd player, 1962-1971)

It's very difficult. People will look at it from a monetary point of view and say it's good business but I'm not so sure what the situation is at Old Trafford. It's been bubbling over and if you speak to Manchester United supporters they've wondered if something's been wrong with him this year - but he's been a great player for Manchester United, no question abut that.

Last summer the manager convinced him to stay for another year and Manchester United supporters hoped he would stay for more than that. Down the years some great players have left Manchester United and supporters have thought the world has come to an end - you've only got to look at Bryan Robson and Roy Keane - but players have always come through the ranks.

Lou Macari (Man Utd player, 1973-84)

What he's done for Manchester United has been fantastic, he is a fantastic player and they're certainly going to miss his goals. But he's never really clicked with the supporters and it's because of the last couple of years. I didn't want to go through another summer of listening to stories about him going to Real Madrid. I think it had come to a time to say "no more please" and let's move on.

I think they'll go for (Carlos) Tevez and I think they'll go for Valencia. I was of the opinion that if Ronaldo goes then Tevez will stay and they've got the money now to keep him. That will keep a lot of the supporters happy.

Clayton Blackmore (Man Utd player, 1982-94)

I was one of the ones who thought he wasn't going to leave and he may leave when the manager finishes at the club, so I'm very surprised to hear it. He said he'd always wanted to play for Real Madrid and they've just bought Kaka so they've obviously got big plans. He's obviously interested in those plans, but he's playing for probably the best club team in the world at the moment. It'll be interesting to see what he does next year.

Post categories: Manchester United

Phil McNulty | 09:56 AM, Thursday, 11 June 2009

Sir Alex Ferguson once claimed he would never sell Real Madrid a virus let alone Cristiano Ronaldo - but a cheque for £80m holds unique powers of persuasion for Manchester United and their manager.

Ferguson infamously put down Real's pursuit of Ronaldo last summer with the words: "Do you think I would get into a contract with that mob? Absolutely no chance."

And yet Ferguson, who has never turned his back on a tough choice and made it his mission to keep Ronaldo from The Bernabeu the last time Real came calling, is unlikely to have lingered long in striking a deal with "that mob" this time.

Ferguson has a sure touch when it comes to sensing a player's era is over at Old Trafford, and he will have detected all the vital signs from Ronaldo last season that it was time to part.

Real's world record bid will ease any pain of separation - and makes this the right deal at the right time for Ferguson and United.

Ferguson will have played his full part in the decision to finally sell Ronaldo. A deal of this magnitude would not have been done without the great Old Trafford dictator's say-so.

He has nurtured and developed Ronaldo since he signed from Sporting Lisbon in a £12.24m deal in August 2003 - transforming a teenage show pony into the finished article and arguably the finest footballer of his generation.

But Manchester United will always be bigger than Ronaldo and the prospect of a tedious annual summer circus involving Real Madrid and the Portuguese winger means it is now time to move on.

Ferguson talked Ronaldo down from a move to Spain 12 months ago, but United's manager could not afford to spend huge swathes of every close season persuading a player - no matter how vital - to stay at Old Trafford.

He got another season and another title out of Ronaldo. Now is the time to cash in, with United pointing the finger in the player's direction by making it clear that he had "again expressed his desire to leave."

And Ferguson will also have been aware that Ronaldo's status among United's fans, at an all-time high after the 2008 Champions League win against Chelsea, had been damaged by his apparent desire to join Real after that triumph.

Ronaldo-watching was an intriguing experience for those of us who attended Old Trafford on a regular basis last season. The affection was never unconditional and even that was diminished - there was a suspicion that he only remained at Old Trafford on sufferance.

This is not to demonise Ronaldo, who still played his part as United secured their third Premier League title in succession and reached the Champions League final once more, but he was not the same influence and was betrayed by his obvious body language.

Ronaldo was too often prone to the pout, waving his arms impatiently when team-mates did not serve his needs. He even indulged in the hazardous occupation of a public show of dissent when he was, with every justification, substituted by Ferguson against Manchester City at Old Trafford late last season.

And Old Trafford was not slow to show its discontent on these occasions. Ronaldo was regarded as a lavishly-gifted drama queen by many supporters and the groans told the story. Greater love was reserved for Carlos Tevez, not as naturally talented but more willing to chase the lost cause. This was afforded greater appreciation.

Ronaldo's posturing did not paint him as a team player, and this is central to all of Ferguson's work. He now has £80m to compensate for his departure and may just have a happier, more settled, dressing room as he plots how to spend his new noney.

This is a deal that suits all parties. Real land another galactico, capping a reasonable week for additions to their squad by adding Ronaldo to Kaka's arrival, while United get a huge return on their initial investment as Ronaldo gets the move he has craved.

The timing is also to United's liking. No long-drawn out discussions - a quick deal that allows Ferguson time and space to seek out re-inforcements, a process that has no doubt already started.

It would be unfair, in the extreme, however, to simply wave Ronaldo on his way by reviving memories of his petulance while ignoring the brilliance he has delivered on a regular basis in the last six years.

United have made an almost unthinkable profit on that initial deal, but no-one must ever deny that he has given wonderful value to them in turn - especially in 2008, when he was peerless in scoring 42 goals.

The Premier League and its packed galleries may not have warmed to Ronaldo's footballing personality, but it is beyond question that he has sprinkled golddust over the domestic game in recent seasons. It is a league that will be lessened by his leaving.

It is sad, in many ways, that his departure will not be mourned in many quarters, but he has brought this upon himself with the very obvious arrogance and self-confidence that is so often the hallmark of the great player.

Ferguson's thoughts will now turn to replacing Ronaldo. And the names in the frame are immediately obvious, with Bayern Munich's Franck Ribery, Lyon striker Karim Benzema and Wigan Athletic's Antonio Valencia potential targets.

Old Trafford may even get its wish to have Tevez on a permanent basis, while the absence of Ronaldo may allow a crucial tactical adjustment with Rooney moving into a more central, influential, role.

Ronaldo's impending relocation to Madrid may just raise expectations at Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal - but Ferguson is the master of renewal and this deal would not have been signed off if the manager felt this would seriously weaken United's search for silverware.

It will be intriguing to witness how Ronaldo is received in Spain. He is unlikely to be any more popular there than he was here. Barcelona's fans whistled and jeered the mere appearance of his face on the giant screens before the Champions League final in Rome - this simply for expressing a desire to play for arch-rivals Real Madrid.

Ironically, Barcelona's demolition of United on that balmy night appears to have been the final poke in the eye Real required to embark on another scorched earth transfer policy.

Ronaldo is the latest element in returning Real president Florentino Perez's attempt to create a new group of galacticos, but he is not guaranteed success on the highest stage by simply making this move.

Real may have a devastating array of attacking weaponry, but Perez might have been better employed strengthening in defence as his top priority. The roof might be going on before the foundations are in place.

For Ferguson, United's post-Ronaldo era will start the day he is paraded at The Bernabeu - with thanks for his efforts but without regrets at his departure.