Ronaldo A Cheat?

Chris promised to bring in loads of showbiz scoops by calling in favours from showbiz chums including VERNON KAY and LOUIS WALSH.

But when he burst into the office the best he could come up with were “exclusives” that MATT LUCAS is gay, MADONNA owns a pair of slippers — and he’s heard a rumour that DAVID WALLIAMS is straight for today.

Hmm, not quite “hold the front page” material.

Things got worse when he tried to ring Vernon and Louis — neither of them answered.

So I had to get a real showbiz star on the phone to help him out with a story.

Chris decided he’d like to have a chat with former Hollyoaks babe GEMMA ATKINSON — because he fancies the pants off her and is convinced she has a crush on him.

Of course, no one cares whether she fancies Chris — what we all want to know about is her fling with Manchester United star CRISTIANO RONALDO.

Thankfully, once Chris had got bored of begging her to snog him, he managed to get some good gossip out of her.

Gemma told him: “I did go out with Cristiano, but it all ended when he was caught shagging prostitutes.” Well, she does have a point.

She added: “He didn’t dump me but I didn’t dump him — it just sort of ended.

“And now I’m seeing someone else, who is semi-famous.”

Gemma remained coy about the identity of her new fella, probably just to wind up Chris.

She also told him: “I’ve got fake hair and fake boobs but am very proud of my real teeth.”

Chris said: “That’s it — there’s my headline: Get Your Teeth Out For The Lads!”.

Erm...maybe not.

But Gemma did go on to give him a couple of other exclusives.

Apparently she’s off to Tennessee to record a pop album (has she not heard the one about the soap star who thinks she can make it as a pop star but is a giant flop?).

And she also let slip that she has signed up to star in a new Brit flick alongside Ab Fab’s JOANNA LUMLEY and JAMIE WINSTONE, daughter of movie hardman RAY.

But she told Chris: “I can’t tell you the name of the film because I’m not meant to be discussing it at all.”

Gemma was more than happy to talk about her new calendar shots though — and Chris was more than happy to study them closely.

It was all in the name of work you understand — he had to pick his favourite Gemma pic to print in his column.

Chris told me afterwards: “I will have my wicked way with Gemma eventually — in fact I predict it will be in the next five years.”

I’ll remind you of that one in five years’ time then.

Thanks to Chris for letting me put my feet up — it was a job well done.

Cristiano Ronaldo made dying girl's final wish come true

Footballer met with terminally ill cancer patient

Cristiano Ronaldo made a little girl's dream come true when he met her at a football match.

The hunky footballer agreed to chat with the terminally ill 12-year-old when she visited the Manchester United team – and says he's proud that he fulfilled one of her final wishes.

'She had cancer and knew she was going to die,' he says.

'When I was introduced to her I was unable to ignore the sparkle in her eyes. She gave me her hand. I kissed her on the cheek and gave her a big strong hug.'

But Cristiano, 22, admits that his eyes filled with tears when he later found out she had passed away – and says he still thinks about her to this day.

'These are the things that affect me the most leaving deep scars in me,' he tells Hello!

'I said goodbye to her with a broken heart, but returned her happy smile. I had been able to make on of her dreams come true. At that moment she was happy.'

Ronaldo Has Final Expectations

Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo has targeted a place in the Champions League final this season - but he expects rivals Chelsea to struggle on the trophy front after the departure of Jose Mourinho.

The Portugal international believes the Red Devils have the capability to go all the way to the final in Moscow next May and said there was a determination to do well in Europe's premier club competition.

"Manchester United is the favourite (for the Champions League). Milan, Barcelona, Real Madrid and Inter also have good chances," said Ronaldo, who also revealed a long-time desire to succeed at international level after finishing fourth at last year's World Cup in Germany.

"We want to reach the final at the very least. I am extremely ambitious and want to win every title.

"I especially want to win the World Cup. For Portugal to get fourth place in Germany last year was not a failure."

Meanwhile, Mourinho's shock exit from Stamford Bridge last month left new coach Avram Grant with a huge act to follow and Portugal international Ronaldo believes that cannot fail but to have an impact.

"Chelsea without Mourinho, that's a completely different team," Ronaldo, according to The Times, told Austrian newspaper Heute.

"You can never write Chelsea off, but I have a feeling that this will not be a good season for them."

Man Utd tie up with potential Bollywood blockbuster

MUMBAI — Bollywood movie "Goal" has tied up with Manchester United Football Club in the hope of scoring a major hit when it is released at the end of the month.

Indian actor John Abraham plays the role of a footballer inspired by the English Premier League champions.

"It's great to be associated with the Manchester United Club for our film," Abraham told Tuesday's The Times of India. "I have been a die-hard soccer fan since childhood and I have been idolising Manchester United since then."

The movie's director Vivek Agnihotri said it was the first time that the club would be associated with an Indian movie.

"We have shot in (the) club premises which is also another first for any Indian movie," he said.

The Times of India said England's Wayne Rooney and Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo will be among the United heroes featured in promotional clips for the movie.

Bollywood actress Bipasha Basu, Abraham's girlfriend, also stars in "Goal."

The story revolves around a club facing closure unless they start winning games.

The manager takes his players to Manchester United, not to learn to sing and dance in traditional Bollywood style, but to seek inspiration.

With India's economy booming and new audiences being drawn to the cinema, Bollywood films are branching out into new fields.

"Chak De India" (Go India), a film based about hockey, proved a roaring success this year with superstar Shah Rukh Khan in the role of a disgraced player who turns the Indian women's hockey team into world cup winners.

Cristiano Ronaldo Helps Portugal to a Win

AKU, Oct 13 - Portugal kept alive their hopes of qualifying for the Euro 2008 finals after two first-half goals gave them a 2-0 victory over 10-man Azerbaijan in their Group A qualifier on Saturday.

Dominant Portugal started brightly and defender Bruno Alves opened the scoring after 12 minutes with a glancing header following a corner from Deco.

Azerbaijan were reduced to 10 men on 28 minutes when captain Aslan Karimov was sent-off for a foul on winger Cristiano Ronaldo.

Portugal, who had drawn their last three qualifiers, doubled their lead on the stroke of half-time when striker Hugo Almeida, a late replacement for the injured Nuno Gomes, tapped in a cross from the right by Miguel.

Azerbaijan counter-attacked strongly in the second half and Branimir Subasic shot wide with only goalkeeper Ricardo to beat after 75 minutes.

Ronaldo failed to celebrate his 50th appearance for Portuguese side with a goal when he hit the Azerbaijan post after a fine run on 77 minutes

Portugal trail leaders Poland, who face Kazakhstan later on Saturday, by a point with three qualifying matches to go in the eight-team group.

Coach Luiz Felipe Scolari was serving the first of a three-match ban imposed by UEFA after what the governing body termed an "assault" on player Ivica Dragutinovic after Portugal's 1-1 draw at home to Serbia on Sept. 12.

Ronaldo nets poll win

United fans have backed Cristiano Ronaldo to continue his 2006/07 form and top the Reds' scoring charts come the end of the season.

More than 7000 ManUtd.com visitors participated in the poll, which saw the Portuguese winger blitz the field with a staggering 54 per cent of the votes.

Ronaldo scored 23 times last season and has already found the net four times during the current campaign, inlcuding one against former club Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League.

Meanwhile, England international Wayne Rooney, who also scored 23 times last season, placed second in the poll with 30 per cent of the votes, while summer signing Carlos Tevez rounded out the top three. Tevez took some time before netting his first United goal but has now scored twice in his last three league appearances.

Cristiano Ronaldo writes off Chelsea challenge

Sir Alex Ferguson and his Manchester United players have been careful not to gloat since the departure of José Mourinho from Chelsea last month, but Cristiano Ronaldo has admitted to the sense of optimism at Old Trafford by saying that the London club are no longer the same team without their Portuguese manager.

In the interests of diplomacy, the subject of Mourinho’s exit was off limits when Ronaldo held a press conference a week ago to launch his new book, but when he was asked this week how strong Chelsea would be without Mourinho, the winger said: “Chelsea without Mourinho, that’s a completely different team. You can never write Chelsea off, but I have a feeling that this will not be a good season for them.”

Ronaldo’s remarks are unlikely to please Ferguson, the United manager, whose preference is for his players to be seen and not heard. The comments were made in an interview with a Viennese newspaper, Heute, given to promote next summer’s European Championship finals in Austria and Switzerland. The Portugal winger also boasted that United are favourites to win the Champions League.

United are bullish after eight consecutive wins in the Barclays Premier League and the Champions League, a run punctuated only by the glaring 2-0 home defeat by Coventry City in the Carling Cup, but a series of injuries has given Ferguson cause for concern.

Louis Saha withdrew from the France squad yesterday with the knee injury he suffered while warming up before the 4-0 victory over Wigan Athletic on Saturday. Saha follows Edwin van der Sar, Nemanja Vidic, Michael Carrick, Darren Fletcher and Owen Hargreaves in being ruled out of international duty this week.

Cristiano Ronaldo: I Didn’t Say That Roma Players ‘Begged For Mercy’

Ronaldo: I Didn’t Say That Roma Players ‘Begged For Mercy’


Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo has denied ever saying that Roma players begged him for mercy during last season’s meeting in the Champions League.
In the build-up to Tuesday’s re-match between Man Utd and Roma, the press printed extracts from Ronaldo’s book, which supposedly said that some Roma players pleaded with the winger not to “do any more dribbles”.

However Ronaldo has rubbished these reports and says that everything has been misinterpreted.

“Read my book and you will see on page 112 exactly what happened,” he stressed. “A Roma player did ask me to stop dribbling, but obviously he was joking just like some English players do when they ask me to switch to the other side of the pitch.

“Roma played well and had some good chances and we aren’t the side we were in April. But we are improving and we will be better at the Olimpico in December.”

Ronaldo also accepted that the elbow he received off Roma striker Mirko Vucinic, which caused him to require stitches for a facial wound, was not deliberate.

“It wasn’t an intentional foul,” Ronaldo said. “It was just one of those things that happen during a game.

“I don’t like black eyes, but Vucinic didn’t do it on purpose and these things happen in football.”

http://goal.com/en-us/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=435169

Cristiano Ronaldo to the door of the 50th game

Cristiano Ronaldo and Deco go to complete fifty games as international Portugueses in the near Saturday, in the Azerbaijan. The extreme and the medium one achieve a historical mark in record time, verifying fully that there was life for there of Fig and Rui Coast, moving away the suspicions of big part of the Portugueses.

After the "golden Generation", that so much glories gave to Portugal, news symbols for the national selection arose, with an aim to an afirmaçação full in the international scene. Cristiano Ronaldo and Deco are for the selection of Scolari as Fig and Rui Coast were for the previous. Still shared the same space, but barely for an effective passage of testimony.

Ronaldo and Deco contributed directly for the 2º place in the Championship of the Europe of 2004 and for the 4ª position in the Championship of the World of 2006. With 22 and 30 years, respectively, the players of Manchester United and Barcelona still have very for give to the selection, especially in the difficult one apuramento for the final phase of the European of 2008.

The two players reach the mark of fifty games in record time (Ronaldo will be even the more new and the more quick, in that case due to the most greatest number of international commitments in the present time).

Cristiano Ronaldo

Date birth: 1985-02-05 (22 years) Number of games in the selection: 49 Number of goals in the selection: 19
First participation in the selection: 2003-08-20

Cristiano Ronaldo estrou-itself by the national selection in a private meeting facing the Cazaquistão. To 20 of August of 2003, the extreme replaced Fig to the break and, to the 18 years, fulfilled to first phase of a shining ascent. It affirmed itself as title of the selection in full Euro2004, after to have marked the goal of honor in the initial defeat facing the Greece. To the third game, with the neighboring one Spain, entered in the eleven for never again leave. Of this then, alone failed four games, two of them private.

Ron: You won't win any Mour

CRISTIANO RONALDO has taunted Chelsea claiming Jose Mourinho’s shock exit will stop them winning anything this season.

The Manchester United superstar last night insisted the Blues are not the same team without boss Mourinho — who won six trophies in three years at the Bridge.

Israeli Avram Grant has been under fire since his appointment 21 days ago and Ronaldo’s comments are certain to heap more pressure on the new boss.

Portugal’s King of the Wing is adamant letting go of Mourinho will prove disastrous and Chelsea’s season will end without the Premier League title.

Ronaldo, 22, said: “Chelsea without Mourinho are a completely different team.

“They are always a good team but I have the personal feeling that it will not be a good season for the Blues.”

Ronaldo also revealed his ideal date — a night out with Hollywood sex-bomb Angelina Jolie.

He said: “The woman of my dreams is Angelina Jolie. She has everything I’m looking for.

“A serious relationship for me is impossible at the moment as football is the most important thing in my life.”

Ronaldo’s United are second in the table — just two points adrift of leaders Arsenal.

Chelsea are seventh and lagging seven points behind the Gunners, despite having played one more game.

Ronaldo insisted United’s priority this season is to win the Champions League — the trophy manager Alex Ferguson covets the most.

But the star also wrote off Chelsea’s chances of conquering Europe this term.

Ronaldo added: “Manchester United is the favourite. Milan, Barcelona, Real Madrid and Inter also have good chances. We want to reach the final at the very least.


“I am extremely ambitious and want to win every title.”

The Portuguese wideman also revealed his ambitions for his national team.

He said: “I especially want to win the World Cup.

“For Portugal to get fourth place in Germany last year was not a failure.”

And Ronaldo has backed England to go close at Euro 2008 next year.

He said “Germany, France, Italy, England and Portugal are the Euro 2008 favourites.”

The Old Trafford favourite is in the running for World Player of the Year after some stunning performances and goals in United’s sensational title-winning season.

But Ronaldo conceded that Brazil and AC Milan idol Kaka should win the title.

He said: “At this time Kaka is the best player in the world.”

Ronaldo says his long-term aim is to become a United legend and has already fulfilled his childhood dream of wearing the United shirt of his Reds idol.

He added: “I remember my favourite player Eric Cantona.

“I was training hard and dreaming to be the best. I still do. Now I wear the No 7 shirt like Cantona.”

And Ronaldo now wants young players to follow his example.

He said: “Kids must work very hard every day to improve themselves. Kids must take risks to get a chance for a big career.

“When I am finished I want to be remembered as one of the great players.”

Ronaldo Praises Kaká But Not Milan

Manchester United ace Cristiano Ronaldo talked about a range of topics, including his choice as the best player in the world and his favorites to win the Champions League, as well as Chelsea's current situation.

Before focusing on an important weekend for his national team's bid to qualify for Euro 2008, Portugal and Manchester United starlet Cristiano Ronaldo gave an interview in which he talked about the current state of things in English and European football.

"The best player in the world? At the moment it's Kaká," he said, "but Milan are inferior to Manchester United: I think we are the real favorites to win the Champions League, with the Milan teams and the Spanish teams immediately behind us."

The Portuguese ace revealed his idol is former Manchester United legend Eric Cantona: "I'm wearing the number 7 shirt, the same as my idol Cantona, it's an honor."

He then went on to talk about Chelsea, who are going through some dark times following the departure of Jose Mourinho.

"Without Mourinho, I think they'll have a difficult season," Ronaldo mused, "I don't know how they will manage without him. I'm not saying Chelsea won't aim for the title, but I would be lying if I said I didn't think they're going to have serious problems this season.

"But for now I'll think about the national team: if we qualify, I think we can aim for the title along with the usual teams, Italy, Germany, England, and France."

More honours for Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo's brace against Wigan on Saturday was enough to earn him the ManUtd.com Man of the Match accolade.

More than 1000 fans voted in the poll, which saw the Portuguese winger pushed all the way by striker Carlos Tevez, whose tireless performance attracted 34 per cent of the vote. But it was two-goal hero Ronaldo who took home the prize for the second straight league match, with an impressive 41 per cent.

The Reds' no.7 has now scored four goals in his last five appearances, including winners against Sporting Lisbon and Birmingham City.

This latest honour comes on the back of Ronaldo's inclusion in the 2006/07 FIFPRO World XI. The only United player in the side, Ronaldo's place in the midfield alongside Steven Gerrard (Liverpool) and Kaka (AC Milan) was confirmed on Friday 5 October.

The FIFPRO World XI is voted for by professional footballers around the world.

Cristiano Ronaldo (ManUtd vs. Wigan photos 6.10.07 )

Cristiano Ronaldo: "We'll retain our title"

Cristiano Ronaldo is confident United will retain the Premier League title, but the winger expects things to be tougher this time round.

Having seen Arsenal and Chelsea finish top of the pile for three seasons, the Reds finally reclaimed the Championship crown in May after a four-year drought.

After a string of 1-0 victories, Ronaldo helped the Reds to a 4-0 victory over Wigan with two second half strikes which temporarily lifted them to top of the table. The Portuguese international admits there is still room for improvement, but he remains convinced United will end the season as champions once more.

“I believe we will win [the title] this season, but I think it will be tougher,” he said at the launch of his new book ‘Moments.’ “Every season I think United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal will have a chance to win the league. But I think United will win.

"Arsenal and Liverpool look very strong this season. Arsenal are playing fantastic football at the moment. They have a young team, but are doing very well. Liverpool are doing well too, but I believe we are the best team."

Winning the Champions League remains Ronaldo’s ultimate dream, but the 22-year-old insists United are more than capable of success both at home and abroad.

“There is always pressure to win trophies every season at this club,” he says. “This season is no different. We must win something.

"Winning the league last season meant everything. We had a fantastic season and played a lot of great games. Everyone felt good and fit and I hope everyone will feel the same this season.

“The Premier League and Champions League are the most important trophies and I believe we will win one of them or even both.”

"English football will miss Jose Mourinho," said Ronaldo

Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo has called a truce with Jose Mourinho and wished his countryman all the best for the future.The pair became embroiled in a major row at the end of last season, which ended with the former Chelsea boss claiming Ronaldo "lacked class".

His attack brought a stinging response from Sir Alex Ferguson, who felt compelled to stand up for his star man, marking the low point in what was generally a cordial relationship between the Scot and former Chelsea boss Mourinho.

However, Ronaldo has shown he bears no grudge towards Mourinho and feels the loss of the Portuguese coach will leave a hole in the Premier League.

"English football will miss Jose Mourinho," said Ronaldo.

"He is a great manager.

"He won a lot of things in England and the titles speak for themselves.

"Maybe he wants a new experience but I wish him all the best."

Ronaldo did not say whether he felt Mourinho's exit would have an adverse effect on Chelsea's title challenge this term.

However, with just two points from their last four games heading into this weekend, Avram Grant has a major job on his hands to rekindle hopes of a third championship in four seasons for the Stamford Bridge outfit.

Whether Grant achieves his aim or not, Ronaldo is convinced United are destined for at least one major honour this season despite their own slow start.

"There is always pressure on you to win something," he said.

"That is the case at all the big clubs in the world and this season is no different for us.

"We need to win something; Premier League or the Champions League. These are the most important trophies and I believe we will win at least one, possibly both."

Having contributed an incredible 23 goals to the Red Devils cause last term, Ronaldo knows he faces an immensely difficult task to match that figure.

However, he may need to reach such a total if United's struggles in front of goal continue for much longer.

He certainly feels a back-to-back Red Devils title win for the first time in seven years is a more difficult proposition this time around with both Arsenal and Liverpool expected to mount a more forceful challenge.

"There will be more teams involved in the title race this season," he said.

"Liverpool and Arsenal are very strong, and along with Manchester United and Chelsea have the chance to win the league every season.

"Arsenal are playing fantastically at the moment and they have such a young team. Liverpool have new players and are doing well too.

"But I believe Manchester United are still the best.

"I know we are not playing the best football at the moment.

"But it is coming and which I think it will be tougher this season, I believe we will win it."

Totti Makes Cristiano Ronaldo Threat

Roma captain Francesco Totti believes the Giallorossi were unlucky to lose to Manchester United and has issued a veiled threat to Cristiano Ronaldo.

The build-up to the Old Trafford clash was focused on the Eternal City outfit’s desire for revenge after last year’s 7-1 humiliation.

United’s Portuguese star Ronaldo intensified emotions by claiming that Roma players “begged him to stop” during the Magica’s night of ignominy.

Ronaldo went off bleeding after being struck by Mirko Vucinic’s elbow, but Totti has implied that he will receive much harsher treatment in the return game.

“We didn’t say anything to Ronaldo regarding his comments in the last few days,” Er Pupone revealed.

“I can assure you that the elbow he took from Vucinic was an accident, but now he has to come to the Olimpico…”

Luciano Spalletti’s side battled hard but lost 1-0 and were left to rue the referee’s decision not to award a penalty for what seemed to be a foul on Amantino Mancini.

“Compared to last season, we played much better,” Totti continued. “We controlled the pitch better and we ran the play.

“We even got a penalty that wasn’t given. All in all, we didn’t deserve to lose.”

Manchester United travel to Rome on December 12 and Totti will be determined to ensure that it is a nightmare before Christmas for the Giallorossi's new public enemy No 1.

what a idiot, you'd think a more experianced player would know better..



anyway i'm sure we will have already qualified!

Cristiano Ronaldo: I Can Beat 23-Goal Mark

Cristiano Ronaldo sees no reason why he should not top last season's phenomenal 23-goal tally.

The Manchester United winger's extraordinary achievements were one of the major reasons why the Red Devils ended a four-year Barclays Premier League title drought and ended the campaign just three wins away from emulating their 1999 Treble triumph.

Although the 22-year-old was forced to sit out three games following his dismissal at Portsmouth, he has still managed to find the net on two occasions, scoring the winners at both Sporting Lisbon and Birmingham in the last fortnight.

And, while he has set himself a stiff target to aim for, Ronaldo feels he is capable of meeting it.

"Twenty-three goals is a lot for a winger," he admitted.

"To score that number made it a special season indeed.

"But I believe in myself. I feel I can do better, or at least equal what I did last year and I will be trying hard to do exactly that."

Ronaldo was speaking at the launch of his book 'Moments', where he was forced to wear a pair of oversize designer sunglasses to protect the eye injury he suffered during Tuesday's win over AS Roma.

Although Sir Alex Ferguson had suggested Ronaldo felt he was the victim of a deliberate elbow by Roma substitute Mirko Vucinic, the Madeira-born winger played down the incident.

"It wasn't intentional," he stressed.

"I don't want to look like this but these things happen in football."

Ferguson has already spoken of the need for Ronaldo to be offered more protection by referees, although the player said he would "never" be bullied out of the game by thugs.

However, as far as that issue was concerned, he was prepared to stand behind the words of his manager rather than adding to them, content to remain in the shadow of a man he admires intensely but, whom Ronaldo testifies, is still capable of a temper explosion despite his 20 years at the Old Trafford helm.

"I am at this club because of Sir Alex Ferguson," he said.

"He is a fantastic coach and a good person. When you do bad things, he still wants to kill you but that is a good thing for a manager.

"He is the one who gives me the confidence to play."

It seems the pair are going to be together for quite a while too.

With Ferguson confirming he has no intention of retiring, Ronaldo is happy to remain where he is as well, even though the biggest clubs in the world would be begging at his door should he ever decide to quit Old Trafford.

"I have enjoyed playing for this club for five years and I want to keep going like that," he said.

"Sometimes in the past I have thought about other clubs but I took a decision to stay because this is the right place for me.

"It is not just about the club. It is the people, the players and the supporters. You have everything here.

"No-one knows the future but only when the club says they don't want me will I leave."

‘Beautiful’ Cristiano Ronaldo able to laugh off bruises from Roma battering

The weather was archetypal Manchester, a world away from the subtropical heat of his native Madeira, yet Cristiano Ronaldo was sporting a pair of oversized sunglasses. “Oh purr-lease,” someone sighed as he swaggered into Old Trafford, followed by assorted flunkies and groupies, but on this occasion, Ronaldo insisted, it was in the interests of looking acceptable rather than cool.

Beneath the sunglasses was a small gash on his left eyebrow, the legacy of a tangle with Mirko Vucinic, the AS Roma substitute, during Manchester United’s 1-0 victory in the Champions League the previous evening. Ronaldo’s reaction to that incident was to tell Sir Alex Ferguson that he had been the victim of an act of thuggery.

Yesterday, with the emphasis on diplomacy as he plugged his new book, he chose to dismiss it as an unfortunate accident. “I don’t like to look like this, but in four or five days I will be beautiful once again,” he said. With that there was a disarming smile, in keeping with the United forward’s desire to project a softer image, a desire shared by his many commercial partners and, presumably, the publishers of his new book, Moments, which is less an autobiography than an extended plug for the Ronaldo brand.

Filled with “intimate” photographs (a small number of which show him with his torso covered), it is a project that would have repulsed Ferguson had it come from David Beckham circa 2002, but the United manager now accepts that footballers have changed and that Ronaldo is the epitome of a new breed: young, gifted and not afraid of self-publicity.

For all that, he is a tough cookie. Maybe not tough enough to stay on the field after his brush with Vucinic on Tuesday, when he left United to play out the final stages of the match with ten men, but tough enough to withstand the rough-house treatment to which he is frequently subjected by opponents, tough enough to keep coming back for more even though he knows he invites trouble with his outrageous skills and willingness to terrorise and even to humiliate full backs.

“I don’t care what they do,” Ronaldo said with a smile yesterday. “They will not stop me playing the way I do. I think my manager does a great job in trying to protect me. Now it is up to the rest of the players, my opponents, to listen.”

What he meant by that last statement is unclear, but it is evident that Ronaldo believes, as Ferguson does, that his unique talents merit being protected. Ferguson calls him a throw-back, likening him to the late Jimmy Johnstone, the great Celtic and Scot-land winger of the 1960s and 1970s. “Jimmy would get kicked all over the place, but he would just want to attack the big bully who had kicked him to the ground,” Ferguson said. “Cristiano is just the same.”

The same, perhaps, yet the two wingers are separated by more than generations. Johnstone spent all but the final years of his career with Celtic, whereas Ronaldo left Sporting Lisbon – and his family – at the age of 18 to join United. Yesterday, he recalled “shaking like a leaf” on his debut against Bolton Wanderers in August 2003, yet within three years, with his enormous potential not yet fully exploited, he was telling anybody who would listen of his desire to join Real Madrid, apparently a more suitable stage for his talents. It was only on the insistence of Ferguson and Carlos Queiroz, the United assistant manager, that he returned to Manchester for preseason training.

It is difficult to see Ronaldo spending his whole career with United, but having signed a five-year contract in April, he was in no mood to encourage the interest of Real yesterday. “This is the right club for me,” he said. “In the past I thought about other clubs, but my agent and I decided that this is the best place for me to be. Not just the club; the players, the manager, the fans, everybody associated with United. I think I’m at the right club with the right people. I love playing for this club and I want to stay for many years.”

Moments of thought

According to Ronaldo, the title, Moments, sums up the essence of his book. Here are a few pearls of wisdom . . .

— “My passion for football is obvious. I also have a boyish side I don’t want to lose ever.”

— “I like to improvise, as ball-dribbling, posing, speaking a sentence or whatever one has to do flows more naturally when improvised.”

— “Football is my absolute priority, but I do recognise that I am very fond of advertising.”

— “Humility is one of the values I most cherish, as well as education and instruction. On the day I have a child, those are the main principles I will pass on to him.”

Cristiano Ronaldo glad he stayed after Rooney furore

Cristiano Ronaldo said his friendship with Manchester United team mate Wayne Rooney has remained intact despite the furore at last year's World Cup.

The 22-year-old winger was vilified for his part in Rooney's sending-off in Portugal's World Cup quarter-final victory over England.

"My relationship with him is great and always has been, before the World Cup, after the World Cup and now," Ronaldo said during a book launch at Old Trafford early today (NZ time).

"Sometimes after a game when you are hot headed you say something you don't want to say.

"Then afterwards, you realise the real thing and you think the people are good, the club is fantastic and everything is sorted."

During the match at Gelsenkirchen last July, Ronaldo rushed to the referee and apparently demanded Rooney be sent off after the striker had battled his way through two players and trod on Ricardo Carvalho's groin as he tried to disentangle himself.

Rooney was handed his marching orders and Ronaldo was captured by TV cameras winking at his bench as the England forward walked off the pitch.

Many felt the incident would force Ronaldo to leave Old Trafford but 15 months on from the controversy, the Portuguese said he was glad he had stuck it out.

"Sometimes before I was thinking about other clubs but my agent and me took the decision and this for me is the best club," he said.

"It's been fantastic for me. I have enjoyed playing for this club for five years and I want to keep going and I want to stay.

"When the club say they don't want me any more I will leave. But I enjoy staying here.

"I like to be part of the history of this club. You have everything here."

Ronaldo, voted England's Footballer of the Year in May, was a key figure in United's domestic success last season. He top scored with 17 goals to help Alex Ferguson's side regain the English premier league title for the first time in four years.

He now wants to add the European crown to his collection of honours.

"This season my dream and my colleagues' and my friends' is to win the Champions League.

"I want to win it this season and I think we have the team and the players, so why not?"

Cristiano Ronaldo leads Man United to 1-0 victory

Wayne Rooney belted home his first goal of a frustrating season to drive Manchester United into pole position in their bid to reach the Champions League knock-out phase.

There may have been no repeat of the epic magnificent seven the last time they met Roma but United's latest victory over the Italians will be cherished almost as much.

Certainly Rooney will be looking back on the night's events with satisfaction as he finally made an impact on behalf of a misfiring United strikeforce, finishing neatly from Nani's lay-off and, with one flash of his right foot, silencing the growing question marks over his form.

'One-nil to the champions' may be a refrain more associated with Arsenal than United but this was their sixth such success of the campaign so far and, with maximum points from the opening two games in Group F, leaves Sir Alex Ferguson's men knowing four points from their double-header with Dynamo Kiev will take them through with two games to spare.

They had to survive two late scares though as Simone Perrotta and Mauro Esposito - at a time when United had been reduced to 10 men because of Cristiano Ronaldo's departure with a badly cut head after Ferguson had used his three allotted substitutes - both missed gilt-edged chances.

Perhaps the most unsurprising aspect of the night was no repeat of the stunning events that unfolded when the two sides last met here in April.

By the 20-minute mark on that famous night, United were already three goals up and on their way to an eventual semi-final defeat against AC Milan.

Indeed, by the same point this time around there had barely been three shots as both sides exhibited a greater degree of caution even if neither could be described as timid.

Roma, with their skipper Francesco Totti to the fore, as well as fleet-footed Brazilian winger Mancini were actually the better side early on.

On his European debut, Tomasz Kuszczak made low saves to deny both men, although on the second occasion an incorrect offside flag had been raised against Mancini, who had been set free by Cicinho's superb pass behind John O'Shea.

Having left both Carlos Tevez and Ryan Giggs on the bench, big performances were expected of their replacements Louis Saha and Nani.

Saha was effective, stretching the Roma defence with his direct style but it was Nani who impressed more, the opening period representing the teenager's best efforts since completing his £17million summer move from Sporting Lisbon.

The Portugal winger produced three excellent crosses which should have brought United at least one goal.

Ronaldo nodded the first over and Roma keeper Gianluca Curci unconvincingly pawed the second away from O'Shea, a replacement for the injured Wes Brown.

Nani's third effort was the best, a far post ball which dropped perfectly for an unmarked Rooney.

It was the type of opportunity Rooney is perfectly capable of smashing into the top corner. This time he merely volleyed it over, which did not improve his temper much.

At times, the young Merseysider did not seem entirely happy with his lot. His reaction to a few quiet words of advice on the touchline from United assistant-manager Carlos Queiroz was not especially positive and Ronaldo's dominance of the home side's free-kicks was another irritation.

It has to be said, Ronaldo is becoming somewhat Roberto Carlos-esque; his high failure rate being obscured by the occasional memorable success.

After drilling one such shot into the Roma wall, Ronaldo had a second attempt, from 35 yards, which Curci did well to cling onto as it dipped right in front of him.

Nani's eye-catching evening continued with a cross that spun off the top of Roma's crossbar, although when he stepped inside Cicinho just after the hour mark, then curled the ball beyond four expectant team-mates, he could only scream at the sky in anguish.

Mancini was doing the same not long afterwards when he was barged over in the box by Michael Carrick, only for Spanish referee Manuel Mejuto Gonzalez to wave away the penalty protests.

It proved to be a pivotal decision as Rooney was about to strike.

Fittingly, Nani provided the assist with a disguised through ball which made the most of excellent approach work from Ronaldo and Carrick.

The finish was a gem, Rooney's shot bouncing off the inside of Curci's right-hand post, the striker having unleashed a first-time shot just out of the Roma keeper's reach.

It proved enough to win, and finally bring a smile to Rooney's face, although he would not have been laughing much had Perrotta and Esposito not been so wasteful at the end.

Ronaldo is KING!!

Roma begged for mercy - Cristiano Ronaldo

Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo claims Roma begged him for mercy during their 7-1 Champions League last-eight, second-leg defeat at Old Trafford.

The Italians return to Manchester on Tuesday for the first time since April's 8-3 aggregate loss.

Ronaldo, who marked a sublime display with two goals, said: "When we were 6-0 up, one of their players said 'don't do any more dribbles', almost begging.


Ronaldo will crush Them....



"I won't reveal his name as these are comments brought about by the game."

The tie was a tempestuous affair - the first leg was marred by crowd trouble at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome as United midfielder Paul Scholes was sent off in a 2-1 defeat.

Fans were also involved in a series of scuffles outside Old Trafford before the second leg in Manchester.

But United, inspired by Ronaldo's performance, cruised to what manager Sir Alex Ferguson called 'the best night of European football' at their home ground.

Portuguese international Ronaldo added: "Other players ask me to go to play on the opposite side and others don't show any humour when they make threats to my physical integrity.

"I know that they are merely trying to scare me.

"But these comments are worthless, for I keep playing in exactly the same way."

Ronaldo, who made the Roma revelations is his new book Moments, is in good form, having scored the winner in Saturday's Premier League match against Birmingham.

Cristiano Ronaldo: I want to be a dad

Football star says he's been getting broody

Man United's Cristiano Ronaldo has revealed that he'd like to have a baby before he gets married – and says he really fancies being a dad.

The 22-year-old – who is rumoured to be dating Eurovision singer Luciana Abreu – says that while he's not planning to start his own family just yet, it's something he often thinks about.

'The idea of the responsibility frightens me but also excites me,' he tells Hello!, 'when I am with the children in the family I get broody.'

Cristiano enjoys stepping into a Father Christmas suit each December to deliver kids' prezzies.

'Every year I dress up as Santa Claus in full costume,' he says. 'It is a family tradition. The younger children have no idea…it is magical.'

The soccer star hopes that his future son will want to follow the same profession as his father.

'I would be very proud if my child became a footballer and had similar characteristics to me,' he admits.

'I dream about that day but, for now, I do not want to go beyond the limit of dream.'

source: nowmagazine.co.uk

i can't wait untill he becomes a father. Mr Green

yeah it would be pretty cool if his future kid was a footballer, i wonder if he had a daughter though, what she would be, a model?