Slow news day - Kleberson makes an appearance

Our long lost Brazilian ex player re-appeared yesterday onto our British screens as he appeared for the last 10 minutes of the Brazil v Italy game in the Confederations Cup.

Suffice to say he played a largely unmemorable performance, so nothing has changed then. Although it is amazing how Kleberson has managed to get his place back in arguably one of the best midfields in world football, the Selecao, after 4 years in the wilderness. Good for him I guess.

As a note, he was flown in when our boy Anderson was withdrawn from the squad with an injury, giving more proof if it were needed to our chant "He's much better than Kleberson".

Ronaldo speaks

The News of The World have an exclusive interview with Ronaldo today, the first since we accepted the Real bid for him.

The summary is:

• He wanted to leave us after the Moscow final as he had now won everything with United and wanted a fresh new challenge, at his dream club Real Madrid
  
• However, he admits he handled things badly last summer while trying to force a move
  
• However he believes we still love him as much as he loves us, and that he has done enough for the team to deserve our affections
• He admits, although he doesn't apologise, that getting Rooney sent off at the World Cup was wrong, but that his relationship with Wayne did not suffer after that.
  
• He believes Rooney will be a World Player of the Year soon, as he is top quality - "In training, he can volley a ball from 30 yards away and miss your head by one inch every time."It might not sound a big thing but that is how accurate he is all the time."
• Giggs, Scholes and Fergie are natural born winners, always hungry for more success, never satisfied
• He truly respects and even loves Fergie - "I have said many times that it is the relationship a son has with a father."
• Also he says he would never come back to England and play for any other team than United

So in a brief, nothing really we didn't know about, but it was nonetheless nice to hear him say how much he appreciated playing for United.

Something along those lines would have been welcome anytime from last summer onwards, but I guess better late than never.

The Full Article

Adios Carlito

So Carlito is off, and the suits are quick to launch a statement saying they did everything they can to keep him. I doubt that really. But I am not that concerned.

This was no real surprise, even from the outset, with the bizarre structure of the 2 year loan deal. Why if we were 100% convinced in his ability not buy him from the start, and why then buy Berbatov?

The way I see it, we were never really that keen on a player that offered at best a substitute's impact role. Rooney has all Tevez' qualities and much more.

So all in all, I can't say I am too sad he is off. Grateful for him making an impact over the last few years and helping us win silverware. I did enjoy watching him, but I could clearly see his limitations, speed being the most glaring.

Ronaldo wanted to go, and Tevez wasn't good enough. None of which come as a real surprise.

So having known for a while now that those departures were likely, its all about what has been done in the background to strengthen the squad.

I believe United have been working on a number of key signings which if they happen, will make us a more powerful attacking threat. The way we spend the windfalls from both the Ronaldo sale and not buying Tevez will ultimately dictate whether these departures will hurt us or not.

In my mind, I somehow doubt they will, and I support the club in letting both these players leave.

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Club statement on Tevez

Following contact received from Carlos Tevez’s advisors last night, in advance of the deadline the Club set for concluding negotiations, Manchester United announces that Carlos will not be signing a new contract with the Club.

The Club agreed to pay the option price of £25.5m and offered Carlos a five-year contract which would have made him one of its highest paid players.

Disappointingly however, his advisors informed the Club that, despite the success he has enjoyed during one of the Club’s most successful periods, he does not wish to continue playing for Manchester United.

The Club would like to thank Carlos for his services over the last two seasons and wishes him good luck for the future.

Ronaldo < £80m

Last week the news broke from United that arguably our best player, but more accurately our most high profile player, will be sold to Real Madrid for £80 million pounds.

Since then, there has been a wide range of opinion regarding the move, ranging from depression to elation.

Here are my thoughts, which are somewhere between the two extremes.

Most importantly, is the fact that Ronaldo wanted to leave. Everything has to start from this standpoint.

All the arguments on whether United should have sold or not are irrelevant; he wanted to go and hats off to the suits for getting a record amount of money for him.

Now herein lies the important point, money. If United spend the money on players then everybody (apart from the Glazers) wins.

Ronaldo gets his dream move, United get a stronger squad, the fans get new players to cheer and hopefully, a new number 7 to add a bit of magic (and less ego).

As for Ronaldo the player, well lets face it, he is a bit of a twat and not seeing him amongst the lads will be cool in my book. Richardson was by far my least favourite United player, but Ronnie was increasingly becoming so with his behaviour both on and off the pitch.

Beckham's departure hurt more because although DB was past it in footballing terms, and Ronaldo is prime time, DB loved United and played always as a team member, while Ronaldo has never once kissed the badge, nor ran to one of his team mates straight after scoring a goal. In short, Ronaldo is not the type of player we are used to having at United.

We are finding it difficult to deal with a situation that rarely happens to United fans, one that most fans around the world understand well, the fact that players do ask to be transferred to other clubs.

Ronaldo is the first player I can remember who has asked for a move away* from United.

So all the best to him, where I hope the politics and turmoil of Real will make him realise how lucky he has been at Old Trafford.

Will I miss certain things about him? For sure, the free kicks, the mazy runs, the speed, power and athleticism with which he attacked our rivals really did make the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.

One thing I will miss definetley is his chant "Viva Ronaldo", but I guess I will have to make do with the new version of "Viva Da Silva".

A great example of how our club moves onwards and upwards with every set back.



(*Ruud, David Beckham, Heinze etc...we are all pushed out)