Calderon blames Ronaldo

Real president insists player provoked transfer talk

By Graeme Bailey   Last updated: 11th December 2008

Calderon blames Ronaldo

Calderon: Blaming Ronaldo over transfer saga

The player said he wanted to come here.

Ramon Calderon
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Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon has insisted to Sky Sports News that the Cristiano Ronaldo transfer saga was instigated by the player.

Real and Manchester United clashed over the newly crowned European Footballer of the Year, as the Spanish giants looked to clinch his signature in the summer.

Sir Alex Ferguson and United chiefs stood firm over Ronaldo and shunned Real at every turn.

Now Calderon insists that Real only pursued Ronaldo after the player made it clear he wanted to move to the Santiago Bernabeu.

"We have left that, it has been a very big story which we didn't provoke," Calderon told Sky Sports News.

"The player said he wanted to come here, a dream to come to Real Madrid and we received and we were happy to know that.

"After that I talked to Manchester but David Gill was very clear and said they didn't want to sell at all.

"We want to have a good relation with all the big clubs in Europe and Manchester is one of the best and I like to have a good relationship with them forever, and they said for the moment no."

Media

Calderon added that he thought the media were to blame for much of the Ronaldo situation.

"I know the media in general to give excitement to their readers and listeners and Cristiano Ronaldo is a fantastic player and he has won the golden ball and I congratulate him on that and I wish him the best, anywhere he is going to be in the future."

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