CRISTIANO RONALDO
openly defied Sir Alex Ferguson as Real Madrid prepared to make
their first official bid for the Old Trafford star.
We can reveal Ronaldo’s agent flew into Manchester
yesterday and will tell United that Madrid are willing to offer
£45million plus £20m-rated Dutch midfielder Wesley Sneijder in
return for the Portuguese ace.
In what was an astonishingly confrontational outburst,
Ronaldo made it clear he does not care what his United boss thinks
of it all.
Asked if he believed
Fergie would be angry, Ronaldo replied: “I don’t mind if people get
upset.
“It is my decision. It is what I want.”
There can be little doubt Fergie is already upset at the
way his leading player is being lured away by the Spanish
giants.
United’s manager has already told senior pros that Ronaldo
is going absolutely nowhere.
A United source said: “Everyone at the club knows where
the manager stands on this.
“He has been saying very strongly that Ronaldo will not be
sold.”
United confirmed in a statement yesterday that they are
‘not listening to offers’. But Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon
insisted: “If Ronaldo wants us, we’ll be there.”
Ronaldo’s agent Jorge Mendes is now in Manchester under
orders to negotiate his client’s move.
Real would be happy to offer Brazilian forward Robinho if
United do not want Sneijder.
Despite wanting to quit the Premier League and European
champions, Ronaldo still expects them to fund the minor operation
he needs on his right foot.
He added: “I will be seen by United doctors in a couple of
days.
“I will talk to my club first and then, in three or four
days, I will be operated on.”
Ironically, Sneijder is looking forward to playing
alongside Ronaldo — just as Real look ready to move him on.
Sneijder, 24, who left Ajax for Spain only last August,
said: “It would be a pleasure to play alongside him.
“I’d sign him for Real Madrid with my eyes closed.
“Ronaldo is among the two or three best players in the
world, if not the best.
“With him, we’d have a great chance of winning the
Champions League.”
