Ronaldo has a sly dig at the Premier League

Real Madrid’s new signing, Cristiano Ronaldo, has had a sly dig at the Premier League by saying that Spain’s La Liga will reach heights that English football cannot get near. Ronaldo recently left Manchester United to join the Spanish giants for a world record transfer fee of £80 million and he could not resist having a little stab as he made his exit.

Ronaldo should not forget that the English game is where he made his name and the amount of money being spent and that is available to Spanish clubs can only mean that more high quality players will go there. You would be hard pushed to find an English club that would spend the same level of money on a single player and because of this they will never join Manchester United or Chelsea.

Ronaldo never really had that many people who adored him while he was playing here, other than United fans, and now that he has left he has probably just lost the respect of a few of that group too. A lot of players bow out of a league and pay it tribute, they certainly do not turn round and have a sly stab backwards.

Ronaldo said: “The Premier League is a very good competition, but I think that the Spanish league is going to have a little more quality because of the players that are arriving. Both leagues are going to be very good, but I think that with Florentino Perez's signings the Spanish league is superior to the English.”

“It's going to be a magnificent competition in Spain. All the players have a lot of quality and the referees protect the players more. To win the Champions League in our stadium would be a great dream. It's possible with all the players we have. However, you need to recognise that Barcelona had a great season and played very well. They have a great team and a magnificent coach. It's going to be a very important duel for Spanish and European football.”

Well he does have a point when it comes to the money that Real Madrid are spending. If Ronaldo chose to look into the subject a little more than he would find that English clubs can’t really call on the government for a ridiculous level of money at any time that decide. Therefore English clubs can’t afford to pay over £130 million and two players and monopolise the best of the talent that is left in the transfer market.

It is only a suggesstion but maybe the main reason that so many players want to go to Madrid is due to the new found wealth they have found. Many players are not stupid and will quickly realise that if they go there, they will be paid more than a player has ever been paid and they will have a better chance of success because everyone else is going there.

However, moving back to the original argument at hand. There are a lot of differences between the Spanish and English leagues and both have their unique qualities and differences. One of the main reasons that the Spanish national side has done so well is the fact that the Spanish game is so much more technical and the players are so gifted on the ball. This gives them so much time and space to play killer passes and develop play that makes it virtually impossible for a team to defend.

These are things that not a lot of English sides can do and they are the main defintions of the Spanish game. Hence why when you watch a Spanish game it is easy to mark the quality against the English leagues as you very rarely see a scrappy goal in a Spanish league match.

On the other hand the English game is built a lot more on the physical approach as opposed to the technical. A lot of players both past and present said they hate playing against Engliosh defenders because they know they will get kicked in the air and will not be able to settle at all during a game. This is why so many foreign fans view the English game as thuggish but this is why we love it so much in this country. How many of us all cheered when ever Ronaldo got kicked in a United shirt?

The Premier League probably also has a greater pace and a stronger element of the counter attacking game. A lot of teams soak up pressure during English games because of the physical and aggressive nature of some attacking sides, this means that when they get a chance they have to bomb it to the other end of the pitch to counter attack. This makes for very end to end exciting football.

Officials have even got so used to the physical nature of English football that in the Premier League you can get away with more than you can in any other league across Europe. In a lot of European games involving English sides, so many tackles that are second nature to some players are penalised because the officials are not used to what they are seeing.

So both leagues are very different and it would be silly to try and define one as better than the other. For the purist, Spanish football would be better because it is a lot easier on the eye but for people that want a genuinely exciting game that can throw up an unpredicted result then English football will never be substituted.

Ronaldo is quite within his rights to have his say on our game because he has spent a large part of his career playing football in England, this is after all, the country where he made his name. However, it will be interesting to see next season if Real Madrid play Chelsea or Manchester United, if Ronaldo has forgotten about how physical the game can be here. I’m sure a few mistimed elbows and sliding tackles will be aimed in his direction and if he continues to come out with comments such as this then there will be a lot more people cheering as opposed to calling for the referees whistle.

Fernando Torres says something that we have all heard before.

Fernando Torres has come out with an ‘I will never join them statement’ in the light of the news that Sir Alex Ferguson has been preparing a mega bid for the Liverpool star. It may be just a rumour but it is a strong one and it has been said that United will be willing to risk up to £60 million of the Cristiano Ronaldo money in order to get the Spanish international.

It is also further evidence that Carlos Tevez is on his way out of the club but Torres seems to insist that he would never join one of Liverpool’s main rivals. It would be one of the biggest coups in football if the move came off but it will be difficult to achieve as Liverpool probably won’t listen and the player doesn’t seem to have any intention of going anywhere.

Torres said: “I don't know anything about United, just that it has been in the newspapers. Listen, my team is Liverpool and this is very clear to me. This club has it all - the history, the prestige, the organisation. Liverpool Football Club is a phenomenon, with millions of fans who totally identify with everything the club stands for.”

“It's a big responsibility to give the fans here the success they desire, but the challenge is always exhilarating and this is why I was delighted to sign a new contract. We need to win the big trophies and we can trust Rafa Benitez to keep the momentum going for us. [He] makes the signings and I’m sure those who coming will improve us - if it were me I would bring David Villa but that may not be possible.”

There is also the added point of this very contract that Torres talks about. It would seem senseless for Liverpool to waste so much money on the contract if the player was suceptible to a move away from the club. They clearly don’t want to sell him and he clearly doesn’t want to go anywhere.

However, Cristiano Ronaldo said before the Champions League final that he would be a Manchester United player next season and he is on the verge of completing a move to Real Madrid. Sol Campbell said he would never move to Arsenal and he did and Wayne Rooney said he would always bea n Everton player and now he is at United.

The point is that for all of the loyalty and words that are spoken in football, money can so often talk in much greater volumes. United would not get an idea of how stubborn both parties were likely to be until they made some form of offer for the striker. It would also be likely that the club could raise a large sum of money at short notice which could substantiate any advantage taking that Liverpool may deploy.

For example, they may have a silly idea in mind that United may just be willing to pay. They need someone who is going to come in and make good the influence of the player they have just let walk through the exit door and Torres is clearly one of those people. He has taken to the Premier League like a duck to water and in the right side he could quite clearly become the league’s best scorer on a season after season basis.

Ronaldo saga finally ends.

The Cristiano Ronaldo saga is finally over as it has emerged Manchester United have accepted an £80 million bid from Real Madrid for his services. The news comes after Real had pursued Ronaldo for well over a year and United have granted the two parties permission to talk in a deal that looks all but done.

It seems that United probably got a bit tired of the whole affair and once again Sir Alex Ferguson has proved that no one player is bigger than his football club. The amount United will get also breaks the new world record fee that Real created only days ago.

They will be able to use that vast sum of money to bring in maybe two or three high quality players to replace the Portuguese ace. Many will be glad to see the back of him but there will be United fans who will be upset after Ferguson stated he would rather let Ronaldo rot in the stands than sell him to the vultures at Madrid.

A statement from United read: “Manchester United have received a world-record, unconditional offer of £80 million for Cristiano Ronaldo from Real Madrid. At Cristiano's request - who has again expressed his desire to leave - and after discussion with the player's representatives, United have agreed to give Real Madrid permission to talk to the player. Matters are expected to be concluded by 30 June. The club will not comment until further notice.”

The news is sure to anger many that will hate the fact that a football club such as Real Madrid can spend up to £140 million on two players considering the current economic crisis in the world. However, as it has always been seen, money matters little in football and it was only a matter of time before Real managed to get their foot through the door.

This news should also prompt the people at Fifa to work a bit harder to think up some sort of budget cap system to be introduced into the game. £80 million for one player is a stupid amount of money and personifies everything that is becoming wrong with football.

Needless to say Ronaldo will probably be offered a silly amount of money to play each week for Madrid, which could make the deal even more lucrative than it already is. How much money Real have left to spend is unknown but it had been thought that Kaka was the early replacement for Ronaldo, however this was not the case.

Madrid’s president, Florentino Perez, seems as though he is making good on all the promises he made in the run up to his election but there will be many hard feelings created towards him with this news.

United should not be down that they have let their best player go. Ferguson attracted a lot of criticism when he let the likes of David Beckham and Ruud Van Nistelrooy leave, both of whom also went to Real Madrid. The Scot is likely to use the cash to rebuild key areas and United will probably feel relieved that Ronaldo has finally gone.

United wrap up the title with goalless draw

Manchester United have wrapped up their third Premier League title on the bounce after a 0-0 draw with Arsenal at Old Trafford. It becomes the first time since 1999 that United have clinched the title in front of their own fans and caps off yet another efficient league campaign.

In a strange match, it was actually Arsenal who were the more dominant and probably should have spoilt the party. However, United appeared determined to not be broken down and saw out the match, which was met with mad scenes at the final whistle.

United have now drawn level with Liverpool’s domestic record of 18 league crowns and Sir Alex Ferguson will be hoping to gain 19 by this time next year. The side will enjoy the next few days but will have the Champions League final against Barcelona in the back of their minds as well as the fact they owe to the rest in the relegation scrap to compete against Hull City on the final day.

Ferguson said: “The great challenge now is to try and win it next year because that would be something special. A 19th league title would give us a special place in the club’s history.”

Minds will have already started thinking about next season and the drama that is unlikely to unfold over the summer. The two main tasks for the United boss is to make sure that two of his best players, Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez, are both wearing the shirt of Manchester United at the start of next season.

Tevez’s substitution yesterday was met with a chorus of boos around Old Trafford and the scenes of Tevez waving to every corner of the ground as he trundled off could well tell a subconscious story.

This was shortly forgotten however, as club captain Gary Neville hoisted the trophy into the air. Neville said: “The best thing about this season is that you can’t name our best side. The whole squad contributed, whether they played enough games to win a medal or not.”

“Liverpool have finished in title-winning form but we have not panicked, we have fought hard and had to show some guts to win it this time.”

United’s rivals will now know just how hungry the manager still is and they will all have to improve if they are to stop United creating history next year. This is clearly the best United squad in history and if it can be kept together then the thoughts of what the side is actually capable of is frightening. The prospect of three titles in a row as well as back-to-back European Cups is truly majestic.

It makes the mind boggle as to what actually keeps Sir Alex going. He has achieved everything he can in football but he will not lie down and retire until he has set a new title record. For as long as his health allows him he will continue to manager the football club and based on this season, they will continue to win things.

Manchester City are already planning United’s down fall for this weekend

Manchester City’s players are already planning Manchester United’s down fall for this Sunday’s Manchester derby. City’s staff are planning to cash in on United’s Champions League euphoria and steal three points from under the noses of their city rivals, offering Liverpool fans every where a glint of hope.

City’s players are reportedly intent of getting some glory for their fans in what has been an other wise disappointing season. United are likely to rest several key players ahead of the game so a win for the blue half of Manchester is a real possibility.

It is likely that United heads will still be in the clouds after their rampant 4-1 victory over Arsenal and City defender, Vincent Kompany, insists his side are perfectly poised to cause an upset. He said: “Thanks to our four wins in a row, you couldn't build any more confidence ahead of a big game like the derby.”

“We have proved we are a good side. We have been well organised, got forward quickly and scored goals. I hope we can win our last three games but hopefully six or seven points will be enough to claim seventh place.”

Sir Alex Ferguson could field a number of fringe players for the game, creating an opportunity for City to win one of the biggest derbies in world football. Mark Hughes is under pressure to deliver at City considering the financial backing the club now has.

He will be under big pressure to win games such as this one and it is a match that City will have to play out of their skins in, if they are to get any where near, arguably, the greatest ever United side. It is also unlikely that whichever eleven walks out for United will take the game lightly. The atmosphere surrounding a derby automatically lifts the players.

This can eradicate any amount of fatigue that may have crept into the United side. They will want to assert their dominance over their rivals, despite City players being virtually certain that this time they have got United’s number.

Old Trafford has been something of a fortress this season and only Liverpool have gone there and completely taken apart United, who seem to score at will in the majority of games they play.

City’s hope that United will still be in a European frame of mind could also back fire. Players such as Cristiano Ronaldo could well be spurred on by the ample success they had over Arsenal and there is nothing like success to breed more success.

No doubt City will get stuck in and could have been planning for the game for weeks before hand, but no amount of preparation can compensate for a moment of individual brilliance, something that United have no end of.

If City’s big players do not turn up then it could well be another bad weekend and a humiliating one for City fans as they go back to work on Monday. United are likely to come out and try to mute City’s main influences e.g. Stephen Ireland and Robinho. The bookies are backing United and the majority are probably with them.

Franck Ribery looks set to get a transfer from Bayern Munich

With each day that passes the future of gifted Bayern Munich star, Franck Ribery, looks more and more set in stone. For a long time reports from all over Europe have been popping out with rumours of reported bids and planned coups to take the Frenchman into the squad of another massive club.

Manchester City, Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea, Lyon and Real Madrid among others have all said to be interested in his services and fresher strong rumours have emerged this morning that he will move to Italy when the transfer window opens this summer.

Jose Mourinho at Inter Milan is said to be intensely frustrated at his side’s failure to make vast steps in Europe this season and Ribery has been targeted to secure UEFA Champions League success for next year.

Inter are supposedly ready to offer 40 million Euros plus a possible player exchange in order to make the move a reality, but Ribery’s future is still greatly unclear. A number of other clubs would be willing to match or even better this price.

Ribery has consistently said in Germany that he is satisfied and happy to be playing in Munich. He has been instrumental in the progress they have made this season and despite a European thrashing at the hands of Barcelona, Munich have been noted as a rapidly developing side.

He has made just fewer than 30 appearances for Munich this season scoring 11goals and not to mention has become one of the first names to go down on the French international team list every time a France game comes around. Many England fans will remember he scored in their victory over the English in Fabio Capello’s second game in charge.

If Ribery moves to Inter this summer then he would look set to form an attacking partnership with Zlatan Ibrahimovic and possibly Diego Milito as well who has also been linked with the Italian outfit. Inter are a side packed with no end of talent and experience but they are missing a piece in the jigsaw.

It is unlikely that Munich will let him leave with out a fight. For any club who are faced with the prospect of having to sell one of their best players the option is quite simple; if you are going to let him go then you sell him to the highest bidder.

Real Madrid have cash in the bank as their Ronaldo quest seems to have stopped so the fire power that could come from elsewhere, besides Inter, could be enough to sway the German club to listen to other offers. Especially considering Madrid’s European fragility this year.

Munich would do very well to Get Ribery signed on for even longer than his current contract runs for. They have regular European football guaranteed and Ribery has settled in the country. Munich have a strong case for persuading him to stay but it is likely that the glitz and glamour of moving to a bigger European club may be too hard to say no to.

Manchester United take a slight advantage into the second leg of their Champions League semi-final with Arsenal

Manchester United will go into the second leg of their Champions League semi-final with a one-goal advantage, following their victory over Arsenal last night.

John O’Shea struck from a Michael Carrick cross to give the current European Football champions the most fragile of first leg leads as Sir Alex Ferguson expressed his disappointment at not killing off the tie last night.

United will be disappointed as they dominated the game from start to finish. Both Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez both had good chances to score but the brilliance of Arsenal goalkeeper, Manuel Almunia, meant Arsenal are still in with a fighting chance.

Football took the centre stage in this match as opposed to the aggression and passion we saw in Tuesday’s encounter between Barcelona and Chelsea. Both sides looked a little tentative and the match up did not really produce what all of the previews were predicting.

Arsenal’s inexperience in defence was plain and it could have been a different story if Cesc Fabregas had the ability to put the ball into the corner of the goal as opposed to along the ground and into Edwin Van Der Saar’s arms.

Ferguson said in his reaction, as reported in The Times: “We had good chances and their goalkeeper has had some fantastic saves, our performance level was very good and we have given ourselves a very good chance, but the tie is not over, of course.”

Carlos Tevez did himself no harm with a splendid performance. The Argentine never stopped running from the first whistle and shook his head in obvious disappointment when he was replaced in the second half. The Old Trafford crowd shouted consistently the familiar chants of ‘Argentina,’ and Tevez can be pleased.

The only set back for United is an injury to defender, Rio Ferdinand. Ferdinand left the pitch holding his ribs and despite apparent enthusiasm to return to the field of battle he was promptly sent for an x-ray to determine the severity of the damage to his cracked ribs.

For Arsenal the mood must be fairly bouyant. They could easily have left this tie at a three or four goal disadvantage but were able to stay relatively compact and concede just the one.

At the Emirates Arsenal are capable of doing just about anything so it will be interesting to see how they play and risk the chance of an away United goal in going for the win.

Wenger said: “They started stronger than us and in terms of clear-cut chances they were on top. But I am convinced you will see a very different Arsenal team at the Emirates and I am convinced we can reverse this result. We have the quality to do it and we believe at home we can do that.”

It all makes for a mouth watering clash on Tuesday but both teams have important Premier League duties to take care of before hand. These cannot be overlooked as the Champions League story for this season turns one page closer to its ending.