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Tag: Ronaldo

  • Transfer talk: Chelsea set asking price for Willian, Juventus on Ronaldo

    Transfer talk: Chelsea set asking price for Willian, Juventus on Ronaldo

    The World Cup keeps delivering shock after shock but so too could the transfer window, with several major clubs trying to line up big moves.

    Below are some current transfer talks in Europe, with potential moves likely to occur.

    Spain

    Spain’s back pages have understandably led on their exit from the World Cup. ‘The End of a Generation’ is on the back page of AS while Mundo Deportivo‘s headline is ‘The Ultimate Penalty’.

    Chelsea have set a high price for Willian, who wishes to join Barcelona. The Catalan club have been quoted a price of €80m (£70.7m), which they reportedly believe is too high a price for a player approaching his 30s. (Mundo Deportivo)

    Steven N’Zonzi – or, rather, his father – has told Sevilla that he would like to leave. The Frenchman has been linked with several Premier League clubs in the past, and reports suggest he has a €40m (£35.3m) release clause in his contract. (Mucho Deporte)

    Speaking of fathers, Alvaro Morata’s has got involved regarding the Spanish forward’s current situation. According to Spanish journalist Eduardo Inda, Morata senior has asked Real Madrid president Florentino Perez to re-sign his son. (El Chiringuito TV)

    Italy

    The end of the Gianluigi Buffon saga could be influential in Leonardo Bonucci’s future. The Manchester United transfer target is also wanted by PSG, and could be tempted there by the presence of the Italian goalkeeper. (Corriere dello Sport)

    Juventus have turned down a deal to buy Sergej Milinkovic-Savic from Lazio. The Rome-based club had proposed a deal in which Juventus paid £89million for the Serb while also sending over Uruguayan Rodrigo Bentancur. (Tuttosport)

    Meanwhile, Juventus are keeping an eye on Cristiano Ronaldo. The Ballon d’Or winner has turned down a contract extension due to salary demands and his agent Jorge Mendes has opened a door to Italy. (Tuttosport)

    Juventus and Chelsea could arrange a swap deal for Alvaro Morata and Gonzalo Higuain, with Maurizio Sarri – still rumoured to be the next Chelsea manager though nothing is official yet – interested in the Argentine striker. (Gazzetta dello Sport)

    France

    The Buffon saga will soon finally be at an end. The Italian goalkeeper’s move to Paris Saint-Germain reportedly will be made official this week. (L’Équipe)

    Aston Villa will miss out on talented PSG youngster Jonathan Ikone. The winger is set to move to Lille for a price of around €5m (£4.4m) – the Villans could only afford to offer a loan move. (Paris United)

    Germany

    “Does nobody want ex-Schalke Meyer?” asks Bild. The former Schalke player has been officially without a club since Sunday, but few seem interested in the 22-year-old, who continues to train on the Greek island of Mykonos. (Bild)

    Benjamin Pavard is staying at Stuttgart, according to their sporting director Michael Reschke. The Tottenham transfer target will not be available even for ’50 million euros’ as the German club look to hang onto the 22-year-old for another year. (Stuttgarter Nachrichten)

    Germany’s early exit from the World Cup means their stars will have to jet around the world with their teams on pre-season tours that they would have otherwise been able to miss. At Dortmund, Marco Reus’ holiday period ends two days before the club fly to America. Bad for Reus, good for marketers, with the trip reportedly worth €8m (£7.1m) for the club. (Bild)

    Sky Sports

  • Barcelona star Messi overtakes Ronaldo

    Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi has overtaken a Brazil legend Ronaldo Nazario among the top goalscorers in South American history.

    He now needs only 14 more goals to become the all-time record scorer, according to Soccer Laduma.

    The Argentine netted a hat-trick in his side’s 4-0 friendly win over Haiti on Wednesday morning, taking his overall tally for the Albiceleste to 64 goals.

    In doing so, he bettered the record of Selecao forward Ronaldo, who retired with 62 strikes for Brazil.

    Three-time World Cup champion Pele, who sits in seventh spot in the worldwide all-time ranking, is the only South American player to have scored more than Messi. Pele retired with 77 goals for Brazil, which means Messi needs to score 14 more times to overtake the legendary striker.

    The Blaugrana attacker also extended his own record as Argentina’s all-time record scorer, and is now 10 strikes ahead of second-placed Gabriel Batistuta. Sergio Aguero, who scored his country’s fourth goal in the 4-0 win over Haiti, follows in third place with 38 strikes.

    Argentina face Israel next, on June 9, in their final friendly ahead of the 2018 World Cup, before starting their tournament against Iceland on June 16.

  • Ronaldo says he may leave Real Madrid after final triumph

    Cristiano Ronaldo may have played his last game for Real Madrid after winning a fourth Champions League crown with the Spanish side in a 3-1 victory over Liverpool in the final on Saturday.

    The Portuguese star said he would soon make an announcement on his future.

    “Right now we need to enjoy ourselves but in the next few days I’ll give an answer to the fans who have always been by my side.

    “It was beautiful to be at Real Madrid,” the Portugal forward told television network beIN Sports after the game.

    “The future of any Madrid player is not important, we have just made history.”

    Karim Benzema scored Real’s opener while substitute Gareth Bale struck twice to seal a 13th European Cup win overall and their fourth title in five years after Sadio Mane had equalised for Liverpool.

    Ronaldo, who is Real’s all-time top scorer, was asked to clarify his comments but continued to give ambiguous answers.

    “I don’t have any doubts, it’s not important, I have to rest now, go and meet up with the Portugal team and in the next few weeks,

    “I’ll make an announcement,” he added before he joins up with his country’s World Cup squad for the tournament in Russia.

    The 33-year-old Ronaldo reacted angrily when asked if he was disappointed not to have scored.

    “Who’s disappointed? Perhaps they need to change the name of the Champions League to the CR7 Champions League.

    “Who has the most titles and who has the most goals?” said the Portuguese, who has scored a record 120 goals in the competition.

    He became the first player to win five Champions League titles since the competition changed format in 1992, including one with Manchester United.

    Ronaldo caused a stir last year a few days after Real beat Juventus 4-1 in the final.

    Portuguese newspaper A Bola reported that the forward wanted to leave Madrid as he was not happy with how he had been treated by the Spanish club.

    Ronaldo’s desire for a new contract was believed to be behind last year’s stories.

    He has still not signed a new deal at Real, who he joined from United in a then world record transfer worth 85.5 million pounds ($113.77 million).

  • Fomer Brazil international is the best Ronaldo – Mourinho

    Fomer Brazil international is the best Ronaldo – Mourinho

    Manchester United manager, Jose Mourinho has taken aim at fellow country-man Cristiano Ronaldo by claiming the legendary Brazilian striker is the best player to carry the name.

    The duo had a tempestuous relationship when Mourinho coached his compatriot during his time in the Real Madrid dugout.

    The former Real Madrid manager is in no doubt who is the best Ronaldo when asked about the Brazilian in a documentary about the late former Newcastle and England boss Sir Bobby Robson.

    He said: “Ronaldo Nazario, the best Ronaldo EVER!”

    Robson signed Ronaldo from PSV Eindhoven for Barcelona for £13.2million in 1996 and he went on to win the World Player of the Year three times.

    He said: “Ronaldo Nazario, the best Ronaldo EVER!”

    Robson signed Ronaldo from PSV Eindhoven for Barcelona for £13.2million in 1996 and he went on to win the World Player of the Year three times.

    Cristiano Ronaldo, meanwhile, has won the Ballon d’Or on five occasions, rubber-stamping his reputation as one of the best players of all time.

    On the Brazilian Ronaldo’s incredible 47-goal season for Barca before being sold to Inter, Mourinho said: “I never saw the same, I never saw the same. It was the best year ever for Ronaldo. He [Robson] was like a dad to him.

    “He understood the Brazilian kid personality and at the same time, he gave him the freedom to allow him allowed him to play on the pitch.

    “I remember Bobby every day… A person only dies when the last person who loves him dies.”

  • Ronaldo-less Real Madrid climb to third after Malaga win

    Real Madrid have moved to third in the La Liga after beating Malaga 2-1 on Sunday in a game the Los Blancos rested superstars Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale.

    The scoreline may look tight but the Madrid club won the game comfortably thanks to Isco who scored one and set up another at La Rosaleda.

    Diego Rolan scored a consolation for Malaga with the last kick of the game.

    “Today I can be happy with a job well done,” said Real coach Zinedine Zidane.

    Zidane also rested Luka Modric and Raphael Varane as he prepares his side for a Champions League semi-final fixture against Bayern Munich.

    After scoring his first Real goal in nine appearances against his former club, Isco held his hands up apologetically, and he enjoyed a warm reception from the Malaga fans when substituted in the second half.

    “He has always been important, despite what everyone thinks,” Zidane said of Isco.

    “He is important, even if sometimes you think I have something else in my head.”

  • Zidane leaves Ronaldo, Modric, Bale out of Malaga trip

    Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane left top scorer Cristiano Ronaldo at home for his side’s Liga game away to basement club Malaga on Sunday, also resting Gareth Bale, Luka Modric and Raphael Varane.

    Ronaldo has been rested for four of Real’s last five away games in La Liga in order to stay sharp for their Champions League games, missing their trips to Leganes, Espanyol and their last outing against Las Palmas.

    The plan has paid dividends as Ronaldo has scored in all 10 of Madrid’s European games this season.

    This includes striking the decisive injury-time penalty in the 3-1 defeat to Juventus on Wednesday which sent them into the semi-finals 4-3 on aggregate.

    Champions Madrid are fourth in the Liga standings with 64 points and a win at Malaga, rock bottom with 17 points and 14 adrift from safety, would lift Zidane’s side above Valencia and up to third.

  • Ronaldo is my friend, but I haven’t met him- Davido

    Nigerian pop star, Davido has disclosed that Real Madrid world best player, Cristiano Ronaldo is his friend.

    Davido made this known during an interview with renowned football website “Goal”

    The crooner also has plans to record a video with Ronaldo. Hear him: “Even back home in Nigeria,during free time on sat morning i’m on the pitch i play number 7

    “Ronaldo is my friend but i haven’t met him, he is busy and i’m busy.

    “I’ll do a video with him but not a music video ..would try to capture a video where our worlds will meet.

    “I met with Chelsea players too, Victor Moses introduced me to them.

    When asked If he believes Nigeria can win the world cup, he said “I’m behind Nigeria all the way, Super Eagles have good players but are in a tough group.”

  • UCL: Ronaldo double revived Madrid against PSG

    A Cristiano Ronaldo double helped Real Madrid come from behind to boost their hopes of a third straight Champions League crown during a pulsating last-16 encounter with Paris St-Germain.

    The Portuguese forward scored a late close-range strike after his penalty had cancelled out Adrien Rabiot’s opener at the end of a thrilling first half.

    Brazilian left-back Marcelo wrapped up the victory minutes after Ronaldo’s tap-in with a goal created by Marco Asensio.

    The emphatic spot-kick meant Ronaldo became the first player in Champions League history to score 100 goals for the same club.

    Last season, Zinedine Zidane’s Real became the first team to retain the Champions League and won La Liga for the first time since 2012.

    This term they are already out of the Copa del Rey and fourth in La Liga, 17 points behind leaders Barcelona as pressure on their French manager has mounted.

    PSG played their part in an end-to-end contest, with Neymar’s delicate assist for Rabiot a highlight and Kylian Mbappe forcing a strong save from Real goalkeeper Keylor Navas.

    But the result puts Real in control heading into the second leg at Parc des Princes on 6 March.

    However, Zidane’s side also survived a second-half penalty claim with the scores level when Rabiot’s shot hit Sergio Ramos high on the arm.

  • Ronaldo scores hat-trick as Madrid thrash Sociedad

    Cristiano Ronaldo scored a hat-trick as Real Madrid thrashed Real Sociedad to warm up for Wednesday’s Champions League tie with Paris St-Germain.

    Ronaldo set up Lucas Vazquez to head a first-minute opener, then blasted home from Marcelo’s cross.

    Toni Kroos added a third before Ronaldo headed in Luka Modric’s corner.

    Jon Bautista pulled one back after the break, but Ronaldo scored his third from close range before Asier Illarramendi’s volleyed consolation.

  • Ronaldo, Madrid nominated for Laureus awards

    Cristiano Ronaldo has been nominated for the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year award and Real Madrid are in contention for the Team of the Year gong.

    Ronaldo claimed the Ballon d’Or for a fifth time last month and is among the six nominees for the prestigious Laureus award, which he has never won.

    Madrid could also be recognised for a stellar 2017 at a ceremony in Monaco on February 27 after winning the UEFA Champions League, LaLiga and FIFA Club World Cup.

    Prolific forward Ronaldo faces competition from Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Lewis Hamilton, Mo Farah and Chris Froome.

    Federer, also nominated for the Comeback of the Year category, was crowned Australian Open and Wimbledon champion, while Nadal won a 10th French Open title and the US Open.

    Hamilton claimed a fourth Formula One title, while Froome became only the third man to win the Tour de France and Vuelta a Espana in the same year.

    Farah took gold in the 10,000 metres and 5,000m silver at the IAAF World Championships on home soil in his final year as a track athlete.

    The great Serena Williams is among the nominees for World Sportswoman of the Year after winning the Australian Open while pregnant.

    Garbine Muguruza is also in the running following her maiden Wimbledon triumph, while athletes Allyson Felix and Caster Semenya are among the contenders following a ballot by the world’s sports media.

    American duo Katie Ledecky and Mikaela Shiffrin also made the list, reward for their remarkable swimming and skiing exploits respectively.

    The France Davis Cup team, Golden State Warriors, New England Patriots, Mercedes and New Zealand’s America’s Cup winners are the other contenders for the Team of the Year award.