Report: Cristiano Ronaldo Has Agreed To Join Real Madrid
The Portuguese winger will apparently move to the Bernabeu at the end of the season...
It seemed almost inevitable that the Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid rumours would resurface if the Portuguese winger won the FIFA World Player of the Year award, and it has taken only a few hours for tongues to start wagging.
Spanish journalist Guillem Balague claimed this morning, via his website, that the Manchester United star's agent, Jorge Mendes, has come to an agreement with Madrid president Ramon Calderon meaning that Ronaldo will move in the summer.
Earlier reports had stated that a similar agreement had been set-up with Florentino Perez, which he would exploit in order to re-gain his presidency at the Bernabeu.
However, it is instead with Calderon that a deal has been struck, allowing the Portuguese international to tell a press conference before the FIFA ceremony: "My agent does not have an agreement with Florentino Pérez."
Now, Balague has spoken to Sky Sports News, giving "access to the details of the agreement, including the financial terms," as promised within his initial claim.
The agent explained: "Ramon Calderon, I understand, has got an agreement with the player. He is going to play €12 million to Cristiano Ronaldo, €8m to Jorge Mendes, the agent, and they've got €85m - which will go up to €105m - to pay Manchester United.
"All that doesn't mean there's any agreement between the clubs. Still, I put all these things to high standing figures at Real Madrid, and they all came out with the same answer: 'We're not going to deny this, we're not going to say that it's true, but you're on the right path'."
Deal Or No Deal
Turning his attention to how the apparent understanding will affect Manchester United, Balague continued: "It's a verbal agreement and I think there will be a punishment though, if it doesn't get respected in the summer.
"It's up to Manchester United to accept or, as they did in the summer, not accept any kind of deal. What is strange that, if Cristiano Ronaldo doesn't want to leave Manchester United, why is his agent agreeing things with Real Madrid?
"I know Sir Alex Ferguson is going to be upset."
Asked about the legal implications, he mused: "You'd have to ask Real Madrid and UEFA. You find this constantly in football.
"Now it's a matter of convincing United with money... it won't be easily done."
Agreement in place, Los Merengues have apparently decided to scrap plans to sign Wigan Athletic's Luis Antonio Valencia in order to save funds."
Whatever you think of CR7, you can make your voice heard: spare a minute to vote on "Cristiano Ronaldo - Love Or Hate?" - our exclusive poll with YOUR chance to leave comments!
http://www.goal.com/en/news/724/premier-league/2009/01/13/1058132/report-cristiano-ronaldo-has-agreed-to-join-real-madrid
Post a Comment