Cristiano wants to play with Wayne Rooney

Cristiano Ronaldo would love to link up with Wayne Rooney again.

The pair enjoyed a fine relationship during their time at Manchester United, where Rooney continues to prove he is a world class talent.

Ronaldo, of course, left Old Trafford for Real Madrid in a world record £80million deal in the summer, but he admits he would love to line up alongside his pal again in the future.

“He was always brilliant when I played with him," he told Sky Sports News. “I played with him for three or four years and he was always brilliant, not just this season.

“He is fantastic and a winner. I hope to play with him again someday. I don't know if this is possible but I am really happy for him and for all the players at Manchester."

Ronaldo : "I miss Manchester United, but..."

CRISTIANO RONALDO admits he is missing life at Manchester United but insists he was right to move to Real Madrid.

The Portuguese winger, who left Old Trafford for a record pounds 80million fee in the summer, said his challenge now is to help Real challenge the dominance of Barcelona as the best club in the world.

Sir Alex Ferguson's side have hit a poor patch of form but Ronaldo, speaking in Zurich ahead of the FIFA world player award, said: "I think United are doing well this season. They have lost the last two games but are second in the league.

"What people think of me is their own opinion but I miss Manchester as I played there for six years and had friends there.

"But even though I miss the club a bit, I'm focused at Real Madrid and really happy."

Ronaldo concedes Barca, whose win in the Club World Cup at the weekend made it a staggering six trophies in the last year, have to be regarded as the best club on the planet. But he is determined to challenge their supremacy.

He said: "They have won everything this year so they have to be the best club.

"They have players who have been together for many years and are an outstanding team. But we will do at our best at Real Madrid to win the league and Champions League.

"It's going to be difficult but in football anything is possible if you work hard."

Campaign Ronaldo, whose Portugal side knocked out England in their last two major tournament finals in 2004 and 2006, also tipped Fabio Capello's side as one to watch in next year's World Cup.

He added: "England have a fantastic team, had a great qualification campaign and have a good coach.

"They can do a great job in South Africa but Spain and Brazil are also strong. Portugal also has a chance - look at Euro 2004 when no one spoke about Greece and they won it.

"I'm looking forward to a great World Cup - I'm really focused."

Rio Ferdinand:Cristiano Ronaldo is right to follow his Real Madrid Dream

Ferdinand says:"I don't think any of the lads are bitter or should be bitter towards Ronnie,"

"You have to look at it this way - he came here as a young lad and gave six years of his career to this club.

Bearing in mind careers average out between 10-12 years, he's given half his career to United, and I think you have to respect that.

"You can't put a shadow over someone's dream. Since he was a kid he's wanted to play for Real Madrid.

"Playing for United is the holy grail for some people and it's those people who probably don't understand why he wants to go somewhere else that - for him - equals that holy grail.

"He'll always have a great affinity with the players here and I'm sure in the longterm the fans will see he was a great servant to the club."

Cristiano Ronaldo:I worth every penny

Cristiano Ronaldo believes he's worth every penny of his record 80 million (C$146 million) pound transfer fee.

"I think that it's a fair figure. If Manchester United and Real Madrid agree to this amount, then there is nothing more to say," Ronaldo said in Saturday's edition of Marca. "The great players cost a lot of money, and if you want them you have to pay it. I'm happy to be the most expensive player in the world."

Ronaldo said that news of his transfer last month brought an "indescribable" feeling and that he would do all he could to prove his worth on the field.

"My objective is to go down in history as one of the best," Ronaldo said. "If I can finish as the best, then perfect. What I want is to be a part of the club of the greatest players in history."

The 24-year-old Portugal international was also looking forward to his presentation on Monday, nearly a week after Kaka was introduced to 50,000 fans. The 80,000-seat Santiago Bernabeu stadium is expected to be at full capacity.

"It doesn't matter if there are more or less people than at Kaka's presentation. The only important thing I want is to be happy on that day," said Ronaldo, who hasn't decided on a shirt number yet with captain Raul Gonzalez already holding his preferred No. 7 jersey.

Madrid president Florentino Perez has spent C$339 million on Ronaldo, Kaka, Lyon striker Karim Benzema and Valencia defender Raul Albiol. Perez's latest "galactico" project isn't finished yet, with more Spanish players promised to arrive while Bayern Munich's Franck Ribery is also a target.

"He's building a great team and changing the club's structures," Ronaldo said. "His ideas are very good and he's revolutionized world football with the amount of money he's spent and the signings he's made."

Ronaldo had only kind words for Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, who brought the Portuguese winger to Old Trafford from Sporting in 2003. Ronaldo said he would travel to Manchester in the days after his presentation to show his thanks.

"I owe everything that I've learned to him: the way to think, how to adopt certain decisions in my life. He's been fundamental," Ronaldo said.

Cristiano Ronaldo signs Real Madrid for 6 years

Cristiano Ronaldo agreed on a six- year deal with Real Madrid, completing his record 80 million pound ($132 million) move from Manchester United, the team said on its Web site.

Ronaldo is on vacation and the sale is to be completed July 1, the team said. He will be at the Santiago Bernabeu on July 6.

Manchester United of England’s Premier League accepted the record transfer fee for Ronaldo on June 10. The Spanish newspaper Marca said yesterday that Ronaldo will earn a salary of 13 million euros ($18.2 million), the highest for any soccer player.

Ronaldo's Quotes and Quotes about Ronaldo

Sourced

• I don't play football just because I like it. I play because I've got an ambition to always win and be the best - to win every trophy and competition I'm part of.
  I'll be happy when I win the Champions League, the World Cup and the European Championship. That is every footballer's ambition.
  To finish my career and be able to say I did a good job overall, and say I was handsomely rewarded for it. That's it.
  • As quoted in "Ronaldo eyes trophy boost" in Manchester Online (22 April 2006)

• We have a good chance - we are at the top of the league, Arsenal and ourselves. But I don't think it is just between the two teams. Chelsea and Liverpool are still there and are strong.
  • As quoted in "Still a four-way fight" by Gemma Thompson at the official Manchester United website (20 December 2007)

Unsourced

• I'm living a dream I never want to wake up from.

• Lots of young players have triumphed at United, so why can't it happen to me? I'm not worried I'm young - it's an incentive to do the best I can.

• Now we're in the final we must win, and can't think the job is over. We'll give everything and we're convinced we can do it.

• The No 7 shirt is an honour and a responsibility. I hope it brings me a lot of success.

• I went over to our fans after the Charlton game to let them know that they have a special place inside of me. I wanted to thank them in a special way for all the support they have given me, particularly in this game here, and to tell them I am Manchester United through and through - in my heart and soul.

• It gives me the happiest feeling in the world. I just love scoring. It doesn't matter if it's a simple goal from close range, a long shot or a dribble around several players, I just love to score all goals.

• England were eliminated by Portugal, a situation they did not like at all, and I was involved in it. They had chosen me to be the star of a movie with a totally false plot.

• My free-kick secret? I just look at the net and say 'take the kick, Cristiano.'

• "I've never tried to hide the fact that it is my intention to be the best"

• "If I didn't become a footballplayer, i would become superman"

Quotes about Ronaldo

• He's a prat of a player and a prat of a person, and he will always do the little teams but when it comes to the big games he will cost them like he cost them the match against Arsenal last week, no I don't like him, I love him!
  • Eamon Dunphy on Ronaldo

• We’ve had some great players at this club in my 20 years, but he’s up with the best.
  • Sir Alex Ferguson compliments Ronaldo, as quoted in "Ronaldo has last laugh as penalty puts United into semi-finals" in The TImes (20 March 2007)]

• When you've got a player who does what he does at that pace this late in the game than you know you've got an invaluable talent
  • Andy Gray

• I'm running out of words to describe this lad
  • Andy Gray

• He's six-foot two, brave as a lion, strong as an ox and quick as lightning. If he was good looking, you'd say he has everything.
  • - Paul Jewell "Premier League quotes of the season" BBC SPORTS (12 may 2008)

• The kid makes you sick. He looks the part, he walks the part, he is the part. He's six-foot something, fit as a flea, good-looking - he's got to have something wrong with him....Hopefully he's hung like a hamster! That would make us all feel better!
  • - Ian Holloway "Holloway column" , BBC SPORTS(4 april 2008)

• There have been a few players described as the new George Best over the years, but this is the first time it's been a compliment to me."
  • George Best, as quoted in "Funniest ever footie quotes" in The Sun

• When Ronaldo gets the ball, you can just leave him to it while he beats player after player!
  • Ryan Giggs

• For me, he is an exceptional player.
  • Cesc Fabregas on Ronaldo, as quoted in BBC News

• I have never played against anybody like that in my life - I was pleased to be taken off.
  • Millwall's Robbie Ryan, who played Ronaldo in the FA Cup final of 2004

• He's a gift from heaven, he is truly a gift from heaven. Whatever he touches turns to gold.
  • Commentator Alan Parry after Ronaldo's brilliant free-kick against Portsmouth

• Ronaldo is better than George Best and Denis Law, who were two brilliant and great players in the history of United.
  • Johan Cruyff, as quoted in

Manchester United:Record Ronaldo bid accepted

Manchester United have received a world-record, unconditional offer of £80million 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.

Pepe Says, Ronaldo is Looking Forward to Join Real Madrid

For over the last couple of months the issue regarding Cristiano Ronaldo’s future and his speculated move to Real Madrid from Manchester Untied has been the centre of attention in European club football. Real Madrid has already found their record offer rejected by Manchester United in their pursuit to sign the Portuguese star. However, Ronaldo already expressed his wish to play for Real Madrid for a number of occasions.
Recently, Ronaldo’s Portugal national teammate and Real Madrid defender Pepe said that he had talks with Ronaldo about his move to Real. According to Pepe, Ronaldo was keen to join the Spanish club. Pepe also added that Ronaldo was looking forward to join Real Madrid knowing the greatness of the club.
However, Manchester United chief executive David Gill made it clear that the club owner, the Glazer family, is not interested to sell the Portuguese star to Real Madrid.

Real Madrid tell Rafael Nadal: Cristiano Ronaldo will sign

Cristiano Ronaldo's future at Manchester United has taken yet another twist with the news Wimbledon champion Rafael Nadal received personal assurances from Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon that the Portugal international will sign for the Spanish club.

According to reports, Nadal, the fervent Real Madrid supporter was told by Calderon that Ronaldo's move to the Bernabeu is "done and dusted", following the epic five-set championship win over Roger Federer at SW19.
It is understood Nadal asked Calderon: "OK, President, where's this Cristiano Ronaldo we are supposed to be signing?"
This prompted a confident response from the Real president who boasted to Nadal: "Relax, Rafa, everything's under control. We've got him done and dusted."
The news will undoubtedly anger leading officials at Old Trafford once again, doing little to improve the strained relationship between the two leading European clubs. On Monday, Calderon avoided a potentially embarrassing confrontation with United chief executive David Gill in Nyon by opting to fly to Madrid for a board meeting instead.

Yet while Real continue to claim Ronaldo will sign for them, United have been equally bullish over the Portugal winger's future, maintaining Ronaldo will remain a Manchester United player.
Ronaldo, 23, is expected to miss the start of the new season after medics ordered him to rest for a month following his recent ankle surgery in Holland.
However, other reports suggest that Ronaldo informed a well-wishing supporter who sneaked into his room at the Amsterdam hospital, where the player rested after his operation, that he was relishing a new beginning in Spain.
According to the fan David Jolly, Ronaldo said to him: "I hope I'll be as good in Spain as I was in England."

Man United and Real bosses to meet over Ronaldo saga

MADRID: Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon and Manchester United chief executive David Gill will hold talks in Switzerland next week over Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo (caricature), the Spanish sports daily AS reported yesterday.
The private talks will take place tomorrow at UEFA’s headquarters in Nyon on the sidelines of a wider meeting of European clubs, AS said.
Meawhile, London's The Sun reported that Manchester United have described claims that Cristiano Ronaldo is on the verge of moving to Real Madrid as ‘laughable nonsense’, .
United were outraged when Spanish paper Marca, which is recognised as the official mouthpiece of Real, said the deal was imminent.
They claimed Real had offered £70mil and United wanted £83mil.
But a United spokesman said: “There is not a shred of truth in it. This is laughable nonsense and to be quite honest we are getting fed up with it.
“We are not entering into any discussions with anyone about selling Cristiano Ronaldo.
“Quite simply Cristiano Ronaldo is not for sale and that is that.”
All United were concentrating on yesterday with regards to Ronaldo was arranging an ankle operation for the player.
The Portugal winger will have the op next week which will keep him out of action for two months.
Presuming that Ronaldo remains at United, he is sure to miss the first four Premier League games of next season as the Reds defend their title.
That is a big blow for manager Alex Ferguson – especially as it includes the trip to arch-rivals Liverpool on Sept 13.
Ronaldo has been playing through the pain barrier since March when he first noticed a problem with his right ankle.
He still played the whole season, netting a staggering 42 goals as United won the Champions League and Premier League.
Portuguese officials believed he was fit for Euro 2008 too but the problem has not gone away and now the operation is needed.
Ronaldo had been trying to engineer a move to Spanish giants Real during his time at Euro 2008.
But he looks to have since had a change of heart.
Publicly he says he does not know where he will be next season.

Friends admit no Real Madrid news for Man Utd's Ronaldo

tribalfootball.com - July 06, 2008
Friends admit Cristiano Ronaldo is in the dark over whether Manchester United will sell him to Real Madrid.
A close friend, Jose, who is holidaying with Ronaldo in Italy, told AS: "Cristiano is not going to speak now because he cannot say anything. The truth is that, today, he knows nothing about what will happen. Of course he's going to go to Manchester United and Cristiano will see (Sir Alex) Ferguson.
"We, tomorrow (today), will return to Portugal, but then he will travel to Manchester this week because Cristiano needs his ankle operation. Regarding Real Madrid, there is nothing concrete, so we cannot say anything.
"He knew that on the 17th he must return to Manchester and the only thing that is clear is Cristiano has a contract with United. He is very quiet, it's okay and the truth is that there's little he can do in this regard.
"Let's see what's going to happen ..."
Meanwhile, while holidaying in Italy, Ronaldo admitted to a Telemadrid reporter: "Will I go to Madrid? I do not know yet ..."