The Hindu : Sport / Football : Platini dismisses Man U’s complaint

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jun 29, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Sport

Sport - Football

Platini dismisses Man U’s complaint

VIENNA: UEFA President Michel Platini said on Saturday that Real Madrid’s courtship of Cristiano Ronaldo is normal, and dismissed Manchester United’s complaints that the Spanish powerhouse was out of line to seek to sign the superstar.

“Big clubs want to have the best players, and as Ronaldo is considered to be one of the best if not the best players, it’s normal,” Platini said on the eve of the Euro 2008 final.

“Players move from club to club and I can understand that Real Madrid would like to get Ronaldo,” he said.

Man U’s view

Man United has vowed to block Ronaldo’s move to Spain after the Portugal winger stated his desire to leave Old Trafford. Ronaldo refused to discuss his future during the month-long European Championship.

After Portugal was beaten by Germany in the quarterfinals on June 19, he said he would make a decision on his career within days. He has yet to make a public announcement.

Ronaldo was key in Man United’s march toward the Premier League-Champions League double, making him the world’s biggest football star heading into Euro 2008.

Even though Real Madrid won the Spanish league, it had a disappointing run in the Champions League, losing to AS Roma in the second round. This year, it wants to put special effort into regaining the Champions League it last won in 2002.

“All the clubs in the world would love to have Ronaldo. It’s part of the system that we have today,” Platini said.

Spanish media reported on Thursday that Ronaldo was vacationing with his girlfriend in Sardinia before returning to Old Trafford to set the record straight with United manager Alex Ferguson over his desire to join the Spanish champions.

‘Passive spectators’

Madrid president Ramon Calderon said this week that Real was happy to be “passive spectators” in the off-season transfer saga surrounding Ronaldo.

United has been angered by Madrid’s attitude to the extent that it reported the club to FIFA. The world football federation said, however, that no regulations had been broken.

Calderon said Madrid would hesitate at paying a European transfer-record price of euro85 million (US$134 million) for the Portugal winger, as has been reported in the press. — AP

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport