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Morning Ticker: Ronaldo-Real rumors heat up and Tottenham lands Dos Santos

Cristiano_ronaldo_5_ap

Good morning folks. It is the day before the European Championships are set to begin and there is plenty of news to get through. Here are some of the top news stories from this morning and yesterday, including what is arguably the biggest story of the year.

Ronaldo to Real Madrid imminent?

Is the above picture of Cristiano Ronaldo bidding farewell to Manchester United? The world’s best player just might be ready to leave for Real Madrid. At least that’s what reports are saying in Europe today. A day after Ronaldo was quoted on a Brazilian website saying the following:

"I would like to play for Real Madrid, but only if it is true they are ready to pay what Manchester United ask of them. However, it does not depend on me."

Insane, isn’t it?

Not so much that Real Madrid could pull this off, but the possibility that Ronaldo, so synonymous with Manchester United, could leave the club just weeks after winning the Champions League final with the Red Devils.

So how much will he cost? Reports put a potential transfer fee in the $157 million range, with some reports suggesting that Real will offer a package of Robinho and Sergio Ramos, along with cash (yes, sounds insane). The more mind-boggling number is Ronaldo’s reported salary if he moves to Real Madrid. Try $30 million a year.

Tottenham lands Dos Santos

Mexican star Giovani Dos Santos has been sold to Tottenham by Barcelona for $9.4 million, a transfer fee that could rise to $17 million if Dos Santos meets certain performance levels.

Talk about an impressive transfer season for Tottenham, which landed Croatian playmaker Luca Modric last month. Now if Juande Ramos can land a top-flight goalkeeper we might have to start taking Tottenham seriously as a contender to challenge the EPL’s Big Four.

Manchester clubs to battle for Roque

Paraguayan striker Roque Santa Cruz enjoyed an impressive first season in the EPL, scoring 23 goals for Blackburn. It looks like that one season will be his only one with Rovers as Manchester United and Manchester City prepare to battle for Cruz’s services.

City just hired former Blackburn manager Mark Hughes, which could help the Citizens have a chance to land Cruz, though the allure of joining the European champions may be too tough to pass up.

More to come….

Comments

  1. lol forget the transfer fee this just gos to show you how much money 1 of the biggest club on the planet has and is ready to spend it i saw on tv that Man Utd alone has a total budget of over 550million dollars during the 07-08 season they spend 100mil buying hargreaves,anderson,nani, nad tevez

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  2. no, man u happened to pick him up while he realized he was gonna be a really good soccer player but didnt know what it took to be a world class player (young c.ronaldo minus the diving, trying to do a move in ever set, trying to show off in big games, etc.). so when people talk about man u raising him, bob bradley probably could have taught him how to control himself. sporting raised c.ronaldo end of story

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  3. the young hopeful of mexico [dos santos] playing in the premier league and the young hopeful of the u.s. [altidore] moving to la liga…hmmm kind of interesting?

    don’t really mind seeing ronaldo leaving manchester though it does take robinho away from possibly coming to chelsea (if that deal does work out)

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  4. Van Nistelrooy has been quoted within the last 2 weeks saying that he would welcome a ronaldo move to Madrid with open arms.

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  5. I don’t think Nani will be able to play without Ronaldo. They’ve got a love affair going on or something.

    I think it should be Ronaldo and Nani for 100 million+ and Robinho, Ramos, and Sneijder. 😉

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  6. juande ramos should sign friedel.

    if santa cruz is going to leave, then blackburn just went down a couple spots in the premiere league, and friedel is better than many of those UEFA cup teams’ keepers out there. He should get out of blackburn and while i dont think a man city move is imminent, he should at least try to get into a team thats good but having goalkeeping issues i.e. Tottenham.

    if tottenham got friedel then i could see them making a big splash in the PL this year.

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  7. Joe in ND:

    Are there rumors of Benzema to United? I haven’t seen any, and am both a United and Les Bleus supporter. I would love to see Benzema in a Devils kit…

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  8. If Ronaldo goes to Real Madrid, I wonder how the relationship with Ruud Van Nistelroy will be? I dont know if anyone remembers, but the bust up between these two was primarily the main factor in Ruud’s departure a few years ago (SAF taking ronaldo’s side).

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  9. Would it be possible to make United better than they already are with this Ronaldo transaction?

    I say yes.

    If this rumor is true, and they are on the verge of getting Ramos, Robinho, plus cash, then I say take it. Sure, they are losing the world’s best player, but they are gaining two very promising young players plus enough cash to buy another quality striker (Benzema, Berbatov) and probably another really good player.

    I am a Liverpool fan, and am delighted that United are on the verge of losing Ronaldo. It will be unsettling if he stays, it will be unsettling if he leaves. But United will be left with a possible team of this (or replace Benzema with Berbatov):

    ————Van der Sar————–

    Ramos—–Rio——–Vidic——-Evra

    ——–Hargreaves—Carrick———-

    Robinho————————-Nani

    ———Rooney—–Benzema——–

    Subs-Kuszczak, Brown, Neville, Anderson, Giggs,Scholes, Tevez

    Hmmmmm. Thats kinda good.

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  10. Ives,

    Will Dos Santos have a problem securing a work permit? If not, why? I don’t think he has many caps with the full Mex. national team.

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  11. I’d do the Ramos/Robinho and, say, $100 mil in cash for Ronaldo. Both are good, young players, who I think would do well under Sir Alex’ guidance.

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  12. kpugs

    what are you talking about? how has been a bust? He led Mexico to U-17 WC and won the silver ball, led Mexico to U-20 WC quarters where he won the bronze ball. He had a stellar career in Barca’s youth teams and was only promoted to the first team this past season as an 18 year old. He was leading scorer in pre-season while playing his natural position and played most of the season out of position while carrying an injury. He was praised by the Catalan media the first half of the year and they then turned on him when he wasn’t producing. This is the same team that let Riquelme, Saviola and Ronaldo go.

    I wouldn’t say he’s a bust but he surely hasn’t lived up to the media’s expectations but I assure you, we have not seen the best of him yet.

    BTW, Gio only has 2 or 3 caps with Mexico so I don’t know how you can say he’s underachieved for his country.

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  13. Ronaldo has done everything and accomplished everything he can in a ManU uniform. And playing for Real Madrid, unfortunately, has been his childhood dream.

    It’ll be more touch for Barca to defeat a Ronaldo-led Real Madrid next season. But bring it on.

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  14. henry scored 80 goals his first 3 years with arsenal – i hate arsenal but i think the only player better then henry in the premier league history was cantona

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  15. Sergio Ramos is a beast. Rumor is that Madrid players are upset with his lack of discipline (read: yellow and red card suspensions) though. Still he would be a MASSIVE upgrade at RB in pace of Brown or Neville. The guy is a stronger, taller, better denfesively faster version of Dani Alves

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  16. If im Man U, im pissed because the longer this gets drawn out the less chance to turn the potential financial windfall of a Ronaldo sale into some serious players. Just think of what 150 million could get. Especially since alot teams will be reluctant to sell until after the Euros(leaving just under 2 months for player movement, rather than the normal 3 and a half in a non euro year

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  17. ManU would be idiots not to sell for that much money. If they get Ramos as well, all the better. Robinho would only do well at Arsenal.

    Tottenham will do better, but they won’t break the top 4, especially if Berbatov leaves. The sheer amount of players turning them down makes me think they won’t get as good of a replacement for him as they would want. Dos Santos has a long way to go to be effective in the EPL. Modric will make them better, but not -that- much better. Just another season of building up their chances only to be let down when they stumble.

    If ManU bought Ribery, I would seriously hurt somebody (probably SAF…or Ribery, so he couldn’t play for them). I would also give up paying attention to football, b/c I’d be so mad.

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  18. If you look at Ronaldo’s career at Man U. He’s won everything to win in England.(BPL, PFA Writers, players Player of the year, goalscoring champ, European CL, possibly and Euro and FIFA footballer of the year. Only thing he hasnt won was the FA Cup which they lost AET in 07) Call me crazy but he has absolutley ZERO left to prove at United. At 23 it took him 3 years to do what Henry couldnt do in 8. IMHO he is a, at least, top 3 BPL alltime player. Couldnt say that about Henry after 3 years

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  19. Pat: yes, ManU has serious debt, but from what I have read it is very well structured at this point. From one analysis I saw, they need to make the quarters of the Champions League every year to break even as well as being top three in the PL. both of which they have done the last few years and look ready to continue for a few more. remember, Old Trafford is all season tickets, and all sold for the year. that adds up to revenues of about 300m pounds a year.

    so yes, if the pretty one wants to go to Real, and they will pay 150 or so for him, take the money and go shopping. how many more seasons does he have taking the harder hits of the premiership?

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  20. Man U “raised” Ronaldo? I think that is a bit much…..I think Man U giving him a chance is a more accurate statement…. I hate to sound overly romantic but it is Ronaldo’s desire and hunger to be successful which has made him the player he is right now. He took the raw talent he was blessed with and really fine tuned it by putting in the hard work. That meant taking more defensive responsibilities, becoming a better aerial threat, and really beginning to become quite accurate with his set piece delivery. Sure Ferguson and Quieroz were there to guide him, but raise him? Today he is the best player on current form because HE WANTED to be.

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  21. It would be great to get Robinho but Sergio Ramos is so effing slow, I’d hate to see him become the long-term right back at United. At this point I’m obviously hoping that Ronaldo stays.

    No offense to Gio but so far he’s a bust. He was almost legendary to the point where seeing him warming up for Mexico made me think “uh oh, here he comes.” But he honestly just hasn’t been very good, for club or country. I’m not hating on him, as much as I hate Mexico I hope for Gio’s own sake this move works out for him.

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  22. Players don’t stay at the top, as in ‘best player in the world’ for more than 2 years. While he is great, ManU would do better to take the money.

    Since I root against ManU, I hope they keep him and it proves unsettling for the evil empire. 🙂

    Cheers,

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  23. @Jacob S: Zum Schneider for a Germany game is a great idea! I love that place!

    As for those saying that Man U didn’t raise Ronaldo, you’re crazy! Just because he played for Sporting doesn’t mean they raised him. When he first came to Man U he gave away tons of balls, couldn’t complete step overs, dove like Drogba, scored 10-15 goals a season and was twice as whiny as he is now. Today he is the best in the world because of Ferguson and Quieroz and the great players he plays with every day. I like Sporting, but they didn’t raise him.

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  24. Ted, most of those players came in straightforward transfers where there is direct communication club to club & not the way Madrid is famous for handling big-name transfers. Not that United is always such an innocent party.

    As a United fan they should definitely sell him if the offer that is being reported are accurate. I have never loved Ronaldo & I think it is clear that he doesn’t love the club or the city. Let him leave & good luck to him.

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  25. Doesn’t ManU have some serious debt? Any word on Michael Bradley? I heard Middlesbrough. Dos Santos’ has got to grow a goatee or something, he looks 14.

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  26. Ronaldo has always made it clear it was his dream to play in Spain. If that is so he would be a fool not to go now….who knows what next season will bring? And anyway most players will sign contract extensions with their current clubs as a way to say thank you to them when they know a transfer is more imminent (gives the selling club a little more leverage in negotiating the selling price) If Ronaldo’s contract was set to expire say next summer Madrid would have the upper hand….. I definitely don’t think Madrid will add Ramos to the offer and if Robinho can’t handle the physicality of La Liga (as reports say) he’ll be toast at Man U as his work ethic seems to be more Ronaldinho then Ronaldo.

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  27. Man U did not raise C Ronaldo. They bought him from his Portugeuse teamd a few years ago. Barcelona raised Messi because when he was young (I believe something like 11 years old) they took him under their wing and paid for medical treatments for a condition he had that would prevent him from ever playing. That’s raising a player (and I would be shocked if Messi would ever leave Barca after what they did for him). But Ronaldo was just a player Man U bought from another club.

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  28. Ronaldo has always made it clear it was his dream to play in Spain. If that is so he would be a fool not to go now….who knows what next season will bring? And anyway most players will sign contract extensions with their current clubs as a way to say thank you to them when they know a transfer is more imminent (gives the selling club a little more leverage in negotiating the selling price) If Ronaldo’s contract was set to expire say next summer Madrid would have the upper hand….. I definitely don’t think Madrid will add Ramos to the offer and if Robinho can’t handle the physicality of La Liga (as reports say) he’ll be toast at Man U as his work ethic seems to be more Ronaldinho then Ronaldo.

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  29. Great signing by Spurs, very exciting!

    TheCoreSpeaks- Nevada Smiths is your best bet or Zum Schneider on 7th St & Avenue C. Good luck trying to get in to ZS for a Germany game though.

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  30. “Ronaldo is an idiot if all this crap is true. Man U raised him, made him the player he is today and he just singed a new 4 year deal last season. I was a bif fan but man, I have when players don’t honor contracts.”

    So do you hate Anderson, Nani, Saha, Evra, Van der Sar, Hargreaves, Ferdinand, Rooney, Foster, Park, Carrick and Silvestre? All whom did not honor their contracts so they could be sold to United? Not to mention Ronaldo when he joined from Sporting.

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  31. Ronaldo is an idiot if all this crap is true. Man U raised him, made him the player he is today and he just singed a new 4 year deal last season. I was a bif fan but man, I have when players don’t honor contracts.

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  32. Ramos would never leave madrid by choice and he is pretty much the only player there that could help united, unless madrid lost their mind and sold casillas

    united should just take as much cash as they can – the problem is whether they would use it for debt or players – i would prefer ribery

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  33. i’m not a fan of either team, but i feel like man u would be insane not to accept the $156 mil plus that is being bandied about in the guardian and other papers. sure, ronaldo is incredible and scored an insane amount of goals, but no player is worth that much money. as the saying goes.. you shouldn’t put all your eggs in one basket, even if the basket cost more than the gdp of some small countries.

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  34. wow, that ronaldo story is crazy. i would love to see him join madrid, but i hope that wouldn’t be at the expense of a well put together TEAM. i understand that he’s the best player in the world right now, but giving up ramos, robinho and a boat load of cash for one guy is a huge risk. i really don’t like the idea of giving up ramos in particular, but know that he’ll have to go to make it work $ wise.

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  35. Ronaldo is the best in the world and Man U really need him, he is a fantastic(sorry too much I’m on Setanta Sports) player, but the fact he asks for a transfer every summer is getting really old. It’s a really tough decision, but if we got say $75 million, Robinho and Ramos, I wouldn’t be that upset. At least he wouldn’t be playing for Chelsea.

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  36. Besides a keeper, I reckon we need a central defender, a midfield destroyer, and perhaps a left back before there’s any talk of breaking the top 4.

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