Big Phil tips Ron for Barca move
By Simon Fudge - Created on 5 Feb 2007
Portugal boss Luiz Felipe Scolari thinks Cristiano Ronaldo needs to
leave Manchester United and continue his career with
Barcelona.
The former Sporting Lisbon winger, who turned 22 on Monday, has
been enjoying his best season with United so far.
The winger was again highly-influential in Sunday's 4-0 demolition
of Tottenham Hotspur, having taken his goal tally to 15 with a
controversially-awarded penalty at White Hart Lane.
Ronaldo's displays have attracted the interest of Spanish giants
Barcelona and Real Madrid, and the midfielder's international
manager Scolari believes a move to Barca is essential for the
player's footballing education.
"The basic education stage of his career is ending and I know
Cristiano is ready for a change of atmosphere," Scolari told The
Sun.
"Barcelona would hugely enjoy having Cristiano in their team
because he would complement Ronaldinho perfectly - they have
different characteristics.
"For Cristiano, the Barcelona climate would be important - most
days are sunny and it's hardly ever cold like England.
"That gives a player all the motivation he needs to train and
play."
Scolari, who led the Brazil to World Cup glory in 2002, believes a
move to El Santiago Bernabeu would not be in the winger's best
interest.
"Cristiano needs to move somewhere where the team is an integral
part of the club - not somewhere where the system is based on
individual 'heroes' or 'stars'," he added.
"Moving to a club where there are four or five 'stars' who do their
own thing is unworkable."
