Cristiano Ronaldo, the former Manchester United star and current World Player of the Year, would love to see old teammate Wayne Rooney, and one time adversary, at Real Madrid.
The Portuguese winger, who moved to the Spanish capital in the summer for a record £80 million fee, claimed that Rooney would be ideally suited to life at the Bernabeu, although Rooney has stated on a number of occasions he plans to be a United player for a long time yet.
David Beckham and Ruud van Nistelrooy have also made the switch from Old Trafford in the past, although neither made such an immediate impression with Ronaldo scoring nine goals in seven appearances before injury recently sidelined him.
“Wayne would be a sensation out here,” said Ronaldo. “He would be brilliant if he came here. This is the ideal place for the world's best players and there's little doubt he is one of them.”
Ronaldo did confess that the probability of 24-year-old Rooney making the switch was slim, but was quick to point out that anything is possible in football.
“I realise it would take a lot for him to move from England. He loves the country, he loves Manchester and he is a Liverpool boy. And United is a good club for him. But you never know what could happen in the future.''
Rooney has taken on the mantle of United talisman from Ronaldo this season, and chipped in with another superbly taken goal against Blackburn yesterday.
It was Rooney’s eighth goal of the season, and earned him high praise from the Premier League’s greatest-ever goalscorer. Alan Shearer said: “It was a fantastic finish by Wayne. It is a difficult skill to sweep the ball like that – with his wrong foot – but he did it superbly and gave the keeper no chance.”
One more good reason why United would never consider selling Wayne Rooney. Mind you, didn’t they say that about Beckham, Van Nistelrooy and Ronaldo? Just a thought.
Source:http://www.givemefootball.com
Monday, November 2, 2009
Ronaldo calls for Rooney at Real
Ronaldinho says smile is back on his face
MILAN, Italy — Ronaldinho said on Tuesday that he is finally happy again playing for Brazilian compatriot Leonardo at AC Milan.
The Italians tackle Real Madrid in the Champions League at the San Siro on Wednesday as the two most successful clubs in European competition go head to head for the second time in two weeks.
The 29-year-old has endured a difficult last two seasons, proving to be a shadow of the player he once was when he inspired Barcelona to Champions League glory and won successive world player of the year awards.
But he has been improving lately, and proving decisive for Milan by creating many crucial goals recently.
"With Leonardo (the coach) I'm happy. Football is like this, right now I feel good and I'm happy," Ronaldinho said.
"And when I feel like this, things work better. What's the secret? I've worked hard and I've had the time to do so.
"The coach and the physio are helping me, I'm going onto the pitch at 100 percent and my body is responding, things are coming easier to me.
"Last season I didn't play much, now I'm playing more and the coach has confidence in me."
Ronaldinho actually made a pretty good start to his Milan career last season, scoring the winner in the Milan derby with a rare header.
But injury and some ill-discipline during the winter break affected the second half of his season, in which he struggled to earn a place in the starting line up and rarely bristled even when he did play.
All he wants now is to start adding goals to his repertoire.
"I'm delighted to help my team-mates, I'm providing assists but I want to do better by scoring goals," he added.
"I'm expecting a great night for the whole team and I want to give my all."
Leonardo has been trying to boost his player's confidence by claiming he would go down in history as one of the greatest of all time.
"Surely we have to insert Ronaldinho in the list of the top 10 players of all time," he said before turning attentions to Wednesday's game.
"These matches between Milan and Real have a history all of their own. Our results have been good, we've got a good atmosphere and it's always the right time for a game like this."
Milan are sweating over the fitness of centre-back Alessandro Nesta while Leonardo will have to decide who out of Filippo Inzaghi and Marco Borriello will partner Ronaldinho and Pato in his three-man attack.
While the game is probably the biggest in Europe this week, it is not a winner takes all clash for these two.
Whatever the result in this Group C match they will both come out of it still in a good position to qualify for the Champions League knock-out stages.
They both have six points with Marseille and FC Zurich three points back and Real's Chilean coach Manuel Pellegrini is thinking more about top spot than qualifying.
"Both teams are aiming for first place in the group and will be trying to win," he said.
"We'll have a go from the first minute and we'll see what happens but I'm sure we'll play a great match."
Pellegrini also insisted his team had not taken Milan lightly in their first match in the Bernabeu, where the Italians scored a shock 3-2 win.
"We weren't over-confident, until they equalised (at 1-1) we had controlled the game," he said.
"Then we lost our shape and with the great players they have, Milan made the most of that."
Despite not scoring in six matches, France forward Karim Benzema looks likely to start alongside Argentine Gonzalo Higuain in attack with Raul dropping to the bench.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Sir Alex Ferguson Defends Gabriel Obertan After Home Manchester United Debut
French winger Gabriel Obertan has received the backing of his manager Sir Alex Ferguson following his long-awaited home debut in a Manchester United shirt.
The former Bordeaux youngster was signed from the French club during the summer although a back injury has limited the 20-year-old to just a handful of reserve appearances before last week.
Obertan made his first team bow in the League Cup victory over Barnsley in midweek and was introduced in the 2-0 win over Blackburn Rovers yesterday as a replacement for Nani after 63 minutes.
Despite failing to find the net with two gilt-edged chances on his Premier League debut, Ferguson was quick to offer his support to the tricky midfielder suggesting that he was pleased with Obertan's overall performance.
"Gabriel was a bit nervous when he came on," said the Scot, as quoted by the Press Association.
"It was only his second game in seven months, so you have to put it in perspective. But then he settled down and did well. He is not happy with himself and that is a good thing."
Blackburn held United for large period of the game and it wasn't until the 55th minute that Dimitar Berbatov finally broke the deadlock for the champions.
Wayne Rooney added a second to seal the three points and Ferguson was pleased with his side's attacking edge in the second half.
"The players worked very hard as Blackburn set out their stall," he added.
"You always get a bit concerned when you haven't scored.
"But we don't panic. We have that experience. We can win games in the 93rd minute.
"You need that patience, though, and we improved our penetration in the second half. That is a strong virtue of this club."
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Beckham close to finalising return to AC Milan
David Beckham has revealed he is ready to sign a loan agreement with AC Milan to keep his dream of playing at a fourth World Cup finals alive.
The San Siro was always the likely destination for Beckham in January with Major League Soccer in close season hibernation, and while the Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder has a number of interested parties he remains committed to a Serie A return.
For the first time since moving to the United States in 2007, Beckham seems set for an extended season with the Galaxy primed for the end-of-season play-offs. On Thursday, they beat Chicago 1-0 to move to the top of the Western Conference with two games remaining in the regular season.
Beckham will have a couple of months to rest before moving back to Italy for a second spell.
England coach Fabio Capello has made it clear he must return to play in Europe to remain in his plans for South Africa.
"There are other options available but none that will stop me going to Milan," the LA Galaxy player told the Mail on Sunday. "It is close to being finalised.
"When I left (Milan), they said they wanted me to come straight back. I had such a marvellous time there. They're a great club."
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Wayne Rooney vs Cristiano Ronaldo vs Kaka vs Lionel Messi
Let's have some fun guys. Who do you think is the best among this awesome footballers: Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka and Lionel Messi.
Wayne Rooney
Age: 23
Position: Forward
Club: Manchester United
United's very own Roy of the Rovers, Rooney made his mark in Manchester with a stunning Champions League hat-trick in a 6-2 thrashing of Fenerbahce, which included a beautifully flighted free-kick.
Rooney, who is set to make his 50th Champions League appearance for United on Wednesday, already has a considerable medal collection having helped the Old Trafford club to three Premier League titles, the Champions League and the Club World Cup - to name but a few.
The former Everton player has the ability to terrorise defences with his speed, strength and vision, and he is equally adept at tackling and tracking back.
Arguably a genius in the making, an incendiary element to his character is the only flaw in his well-rounded game. His kicking of a corner flag at Craven Cottage following his sending off in a 2-0 defeat to Fulham in March merely illustrates this. If he can follow Kipling's advice and keep his head, Rooney will have the world at his feet.
Rating: 7/10.
Kaká
Age: 27
Position: Forward
Club: Real Madrid.
The Fifa 2007 World Player of the Year had the Midas touch at Milan and helped the Rossoneri win the Champions League in the same season, scoring 10 goals during the tournament. He may not have the blistering pace of a Cristiano Ronaldo, but Kaká can see the game from a bird's eye perspective and is as much a creator of goals as a supreme finisher.
After completing his £68.5 million move to Real Madrid in the summer, the Brazilian will be keen to impress again in a World Cup season.
Rating: 8/10.
Cristiano Ronaldo
Age: 24
Position: Forward
Club: Real Madrid.
A player who is just as fast with or without the ball at his feet, Ronaldo can leave the best defenders with twisted blood.
The Portuguese, who scooped two Football Writer's Player of the Year awards and a brace of PFA accolades during his time in England, helped Manchester United win the Champions League in 2008 with the opening goal in their defeat of Chelsea.
Crowned Fifa World Player of the Year for 2008 with the Ballon d'Or already in his possession, the one remaining trophy that Ronaldo would dearly love to get his hands on is the World Cup.
Rating: 9/10.
Lionel Messi
Age: 22
Position: Forward
Club: Barcelona.
The catalyst for Barcelona's Champions League triumph over Manchester United last season, this diminutive genius would appear to be the safest bet for this year's Fifa World Player of the Year.
One of a string of Argentine players to have been compared to the great Diego Maradona - and the first to deserve such comparisons - Messi seemingly sows his boot to the ball as he fillets opposition defences.
Proclaimed to be the best in the world by none other than England manager Fabio Capello, Messi may not be the greatest goal scorer, but he is a scorer of great goals.
Rating: 9/10.
