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From the Terraces
Picture of Rob Facey

Not the sort of speculation that Man United and Chelsea fans will welcome!

Posted by: Rob Facey, Fri 16th May 2008
Tagged: Premiership, Chelsea, Manchester United

Football FanCast columnist Rob Facey cant believe that the build up to the Champions League Final is being hijacked by selfish players on the lookout for a pay rise next season by fuelling transfer rumours.

Football in 2008 is a very different beast compared to yesteryear, but surely some things must remain sacred. But, according to two of the Premier League's star performers, the Champions League final is no longer one of them.

Both Cristiano Ronaldo of Manchester United, arguably the best player in the world at the moment, and his compatriot, Ricardo Carvalho of Chelsea, hijacked press conferences yesterday by fuelling transfer speculation that is of no benefit to anyone but themselves.

"Let's see what happens after the Champions League final," Ronaldo told Spanish reporters when asked about his future, as reported in The Times.

When probed further about whether he specifically meant moving to Spain, the winger did nothing to dampen speculation, instead giving his manager an unnecessary headache.

"I have said millions of times that I would love to play in Spain.

"I know that they (Real Madrid) like my game. I know that other teams in Spain like me as well. It's good to know that they like my game."

Talking to The Times, Ronaldo's opponent Ricardo Carvalho didn't want to miss his opportunity either and suggested that he was all for the idea of potential suitors to line up after the final whistle next week and whisper sweet nothings into his ear about the benefits of leaving Stamford Bridge.

"I don't know yet whether I'll stay, but I have a contract," the Portuguese defender said.

"You have to be prepared for the team to disperse, because when it's like that, someone goes, someone stays, someone comes."

What a way to get the supporters behind you on the eve of the two clubs biggest match in their history. Not only are their comments distracting from preparations, they are self defeating.

Ronaldo talks about joining Madrid; a team that stumbled to victory in one of the poorest seasons in La Liga's history and bowed out of the Champions League long ago.

What message does this send out to Man United, undoubtedly the best side in the world at the moment?

When will these players realise that they may wow the critics and keep the armchair fans happy, the people that pay to turn up every week will love the club much more than they will love any one player. Ferguson and Grant will undoubtedly be furious at the comments, but the fans are the ones that are being made the fools out of here.

Can the players be trusted to be focused on next Wednesday night if they are already thinking about parading around in a new strip next season?

No one player makes the team, as the old adage goes, and despite the qualities of both Ronaldo and Carvalho, the fans are desperate for European glory - more so than securing the future of either of their contracts.

How can it be that on the eve of club footballs biggest event, money is the only thing on these players' minds?

 

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Burt
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The timing could have been
The timing could have been better but I think it is inevitable that there will be a fair few players leaving the Bridge this season.

Salford
Picture of Salford
I have always been uncertain
I have always been uncertain about Ronaldo's long term future at the club. He knows he holds all the trump cards in his pocket after this season's performance and I'm guessing it won't be the last time we hear him expressing a desire for La Liga.

steve
Picture of steve
Burt facey you hit the nail
Burt facey you hit the nail on the head about Madrid, why would ronaldo leave a team that has done great in europe in the past two years, managed by one of the greatest managers piped a club who is funded by a billionaire who could buy players at any cost, managed by mourinho who drilled this mentality and organisation that has made them one of the toughest sides to topple and at one point no one thought anyone could, add the fact they never give up winning the league and add the players they have and had in cech terry carvalho A Cole makelele lampard essien robben j Cole drogba anelka add at the time ballack shevcencho who people thought would make them unstoppable that did not stop united winning the league twice. have a look at Madrid were never the best team in 2007 and teqnically barcelona were the best team that year. they have a clown managing their team while at united there is ferguson, they flopped in Europe and their title win was poor has Valencia Barcelona has been ground zero sevilla never challenged and their closest challengers has been Villarreal and still they were not convincing. I am scratching my head why is there talk because has I see it man utd are a far superior team to Madrid, roma knock out Madrid man utd knock out roma twice and toppled them in the group stages who is better.

Miguel
Picture of Miguel
Well a bad time to comment
Well a bad time to comment on future transfers for both players (Ronaldo and Carvalho) Regarding a exodus from Chelsea, it all depends if A Grant stays as a manager,(I am in London to interview a player for a Madrid newspaper). A Grant may bath himself in the glory that Chelsea reached the Champions final for the 1st time, but in Continental football circus, no one gives respect to Chelsea, because the draws they had, always the easiest teams except Liverpool, and even so with an own goal right at the end. Read the Continental press and the team that reached the final against Manchester United is called Luck. Yes Carvalho may well go to Italy/Spain but so will more players will follow from Chelsea, unless a proper manager comes to Chelsea and convince them to stay, with a better more advantageous contract. Ronaldo is a different proposition, I personally do not believe he will leave this year, but there is no doubt that a player of his status is being paid peanuts compared with what Real Madrid will pay him, also do not forget that Manchester United "cheated" him when he arrived here, with a poultry weekly salary, he has never forgotten that. Had Jose Mourinho been installed in Real Madrid, I could see Ronaldo, Carvalho and a few others joining him, but that would be extremelly expensive even for Real Madrid, but wait until next Christmas and J Mourinho may join Real Madrid as manager, I dont think Schuster will last, RM won La Liga this year, but had no competion at all , specially because of the problems that Barcelona had all year, Valencia is common knowledge, the same with Sevilha, absolute caos in the dressing room, so I do not think that Schuster will manage RM after Christmas, if the other teams and the reborn Atletico Madrid put their houses in order. Besides the fans and the directors never forgave him(Schuster) the elimination by Roma, a far inferior team than R.M. But I am afraid, very important Chelsea players will leave and only because of the present manager, Avram Grant maybe a nice guy and a good talker and friend of the owner, but it comes across a very poor motivator and tactical manager.

steven
Picture of steven
Miguel what are you on about
Miguel what are you on about are you serious, man utd cheated ronaldo when he arrived for starters mate when united signed him he had one year under his belt he had done nothing in the game so to say he should have had more money is plain madness. for me young players are getting to much to young instead of earning that money no they have to be giving it, in the past when the likes of giggs before he broke through in 93, scholes butt neville brothers and celebrity icon beckham were coming through is well they were washing keane ince pallister bruce hughes and many of the united players boots and cars let alone getting a rich salary. so 120 grand a week is not enough is it he must have more, so if ronaldo leaves united he will be leaving because of money not the glory playing in a truly great side managed by a great manager who had a fight from arsenal for a while and Chelsea to the end, no go to an average side who change their squad and managers every year at an alarming rate and struggled to win the league.

Miguel
Picture of Miguel
Steven You also have a very
Steven You also have a very valid point there. I dont think Ronaldo will leave, and I hope he destroys Chelsea next wednesday, but will be tight.

steven
Picture of steven
miguel I did not say he
miguel I did not say he would stay what I am saying is that is moving from united to Madrid a step up because in my eyes I don’t think it is, it should be the reverse. ronaldo should be thanking united that they have made him such a devastating finisher. Another thing that should give people food for thought and worry Madrid is where would robinho be today if he moved to united instead of madrid because I think he would be on ronaldo's level by now and Madrid would be wanting spend 60 million on him is well. in 2 years time Anderson will be the hottest property in Europe and will be the best central midfielder in the world and Madrid will be wanting to buy him is well, they are now a desperate and pathetic club who should not bother having scouts because they do nothing anyway. But like I said before to say ronaldo should have had more money in 2003 when he arrived at united when he done nothing in the game is completely mad.

Miguel
Picture of Miguel
Anyway tonight is my last
Anyway tonight is my last night in London, mission acomplished. Yes Man United bought 2 oustanding future players in Nani and Anderson, I believe both in 2 years time will be considered top of the world. Well to say Man United made C Ronaldo a devastating finisher, well a matter of opinion. C Ronaldo would appear anyway, wherever he would be, I saw him the day that Boloni included him in the first Sporting team in Lisbon, I saw him in Lisbon against Betis, where he scored and destroyed Betis deffense, and I saw him against ManUnited in Lisbon where again he destroyed the likes of Nevills and ManU defense . Now that ManU has put some muscle in him, yes, thats visible even to the expense of some pace, but to say tha ManU "made" him, dont think so, he was made in the best European academy, in my opinion, and that is the Sporting of Portugal, by far the best academy in Europe if not in the world. Just keep an eye on them and see another Ronaldo in their academy and he is only 10 years old now. To say that Robinho had he moved to United would be in the same level as Ronaldo, it is wishful thinking, Robinho is fantastic yes, but very inconsistent and not as versatile as C Ronaldo. yes he should have more money not in 2003 but sure enough in 2004. To say that R Madrid is a pathetic club, lol R Madrid is only the best and most known club in the world, even in Asia out sells ManU and other English teams put together, besides it is the richest club in the world only followed by Barcelona, and this is a matter of fact. One thing is for sure everybody wants to play in R Madrid, any world class player, worth his salt, sooner or later wishes to play for them. And I do not support R Madrid by a long shot.

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