Football Rumours: Robinho not going to Chelsea

Football Rumours: Robinho not going to Chelsea

In a blow to the ego of Chelsea fans, Robinho is according to the latest football rumours going to snub Chelsea and stay at Real Madrid, providing they double his annual salary! Well, Well, money talks doesn't it, and not Chelsea's way all the time.

Given, this latest of football rumours may be one for the silly season, but it could also have a grain of truth in the crazy world of football, and it's sky-high salaries.

Madrid daily AS claims Robinho feels undervalued at the Bernabeu, where his contract does not compare with top earners like Raul, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Fabio Cannavaro.

Robinho would certainly earn more at Stamford Bridge, where he could expect wages of up to £100,000 a week. But the AS report also claims the Brazilian’s overwhelming preference is to remain at Madrid - with an improved contract.

The paper says Robinho has no enthusiasm for English football and has admitted his dislike for the British climate. And, if true, that would seem to fuel suspicions Robinho is simply using Chelsea’s interest to engineer a bigger contract from Madrid.

Well it's certainly the time of year for football rumours, though this one does seem to have a grain of truth about it, and Chelsea seem set to be foiled in their attempt to get their man. Seems Chelsea and Peter Kenyon have abandoned the break even in three years plan!

Football News: Ronaldo to Real Madrid

Ronaldo to Real Madrid: Unstoppable momentum grows

Cristiano Ronaldo's move to Real Madrid is gathering inevitable momentum with increasing reports in the media fuelling the circus around his move.

Latest reports have Scolari and Calderon urging him to 'be strong' and that Manchester United 'can't hurt him'! All silly season stuff really, and what's all been seen before as countless others have done what Ronaldo is now doing ie dig his heels in and force Manchester United to sell him to Real Madrid.

It's the sad but inevitable route many transfers take in modern football, and the Ronaldo to Real Madrid saga is no different. Just the money involved is bigger than ever before! Eighty million really is nuts!

Bernd Schuster has come out and said Real Madrid will do 'whatever it takes' to get Ronaldo from United. That appears to be an eight million transfer fee, and 182 grand a week! The interesting part will be if the Glasers become as relentless as Real Madrid and leave him in the stands. There was an interesting article in the Times the other day, where an employment lawyer basically said that a deal will get done as Real Madrid, Ronaldo and Manchester United will all realise that lawyers will be the only winners if it goes to court.

We at Footy Focus reckon it's a done deal. Ronaldo will move to Real Madrid, and Manchester United will get a stash of cash to replace the forty goals a season! It's a well worn path and Manchester United have time and again been in Real Madrids place. Thats life Fergie!

Football News: Ronaldo to force his way to Madrid?

Ronaldo to do 'all in his power' to move to Madrid

In a depressingly familiar tale of player power, reports are emerging that Cristiano Ronaldo is to do 'all in his power' to get his move from Manchester United to Real Madrid.

'Sources' also briefed in the media that Ronaldo considers Real Madrid a bigger club than Manchester United, and that he has never been enthused with life in Manchester.

Given Ronaldo signed a new, improved deal a little over 12 months ago, it all has the familiar depressing ring of contracts not being worth a carrot, as player power rules.

Manchester United will be further enraged that FIFA have cleared Real Madrid of any wrongdoing in their conduct and relentless pursuit of Ronaldo.

It seems the saga is beginning to play out to its inevitable end, and that Ronaldo will move to Madrid after the European Championships, much to the dismay of Manchester United and it's supporters. There is a slim chance the Glazers might do what they say, and stop Ronaldo's Madrid move, and let him 'rot in the stands'. Now that would be fascinating to see!!

Football News: Real want Ronaldo to strike

End-game becomes a farce as Real Madrid urge Ronaldo to go on strike

The Sun and Tribal Football are reporting that Real Madrid are urging Ronaldo to go on strike, to force Manchester United's hand over Ronaldo's proposed transfer.

Real Madrid president, Calderon is being quoted via second hand 'sources' that they want Ronaldo to go on strike at Manchester United until the transfer window closes on 31st August.

It's all becoming very nasty, sad and disappointing really. A lot is just newspapers filling the column inches, but there can be little doubt Real Madrid have turned Ronaldo's head, and both are now trying to engineer a move.

As we've said before, wouldn't it be great if just for once a club stood up to a player and let him either stick to his contract or as Ferguson put it, 'rot in the stands'. It would be fascinating if the Glazers and Manchester United really did refuse to buckle to Real Madrid and Ronaldo.

Whether Ronaldo moves to Real Madrid or not, its once again showing the money driven, dark side of football. We can only hope Manchester United back up their words with action. More power to their elbow we say!!

Ronaldo: Ferguson not welcome here

Ronaldo's position becoming untenable as he tells Ferguson to stay away

Cristiano Ronaldo's move to Real Madrid seemingly took a step closer yesterday, as he made it known he did not wish to see Alex Ferguson at the Portuguese training camp, to discuss the matter.

Given Ronaldo has now also come out and said he would like to move to Madrid, via a Brazilian website, it all stacks up to the player slowly building pressure on Manchester United, in a bid to engineer his move.

What would be really interesting is if the Glazers and Manchester United stick to their guns and let Ronaldo 'rot in the stands' as Ferguson said this week. Personally I would be ecstatic if they did. How good would it be if just for once, a player was made to stick to their contract. Given Ronaldo only signed his latest four year deal last year, United have every right to feel aggrieved.

However I think its a bit rich for them to complain about Real Madrids tactics. I suspect Sir Alex Ferguson is a past master at such tactics and has been using them for years, in order to get his transfer targets from other clubs!

Depressingly for Manchester United fans, it seems that Cristiano Ronaldo is determined to move to Real Madrid, and it is now turning into the story of the summer. The really fascinating part will be how far the Glazers and Manchester United are prepared to go in standing up to Real Madrid and the modern player power being displayed by Cristiano Ronaldo. Let battle commence!

Ronaldo to Madrid: Looking a shoe-in

The mother of all moves edging closer as Ronaldo admits to wanting move to Madrid

Cristiano Ronaldo admitted yesterday (albeit on a Brazilian website), that he would like to move to Real Madrid. There was no word from Sir Alex Ferguson, though Manchester United's Chief Executive David Gill stated that "Our position on Ronaldo remains as set out last week," referring to Ferguson's insistence that the club would rather let the player rot in the reserves than do business with a club who, in their eyes, have brazenly flouted transfer rules and etiquette.

It all seems like its building up to be the mother of all transfer stoushes, probably ending in the mother of all transfers, with a world record fee of 78 million pounds securing Ronaldo's move to Madrid.

Manchester United and it's supporters will be hugely disappointed with Ronaldo, who it appears is determined to engineer the move to Madrid after only two outstanding seasons. However given his recent comments it can come as no surprise.

Overall the Premier League will be very interesting next season, and potentially there will not be a better time for a club to break into the top three or four. Arsenal have lost Flamini and Hleb, Chelsea look likely to lose Drogba and possibly Lampard, while Manchester United certainly look like losing 40 goals a season in Ronaldo.

Madrid to try for Ronaldo?

Silly season starts early as speculation links Real Madrid with a 50 million bid

Reports are surfacing of Real Madrid's board discussing how to make a major bid for Manchester United's jewell Cristiano Ronaldo.

AS says Ronaldo remains on Real president Ramon Calderon's shopping list, despite the recent public denials made by sports director Pedja Mijatovic.

To raise the cash for a £50 million-plus deal to buy Ronaldo they are considering selling the likes of Mahamadou Diarra and Julio Baptista. Liverpool have been linked with Diarra as a replacement for the much speculated about Xabi Alonso, while Baptista was also linked with Anfield.

Diarra is a quality player, however Baptista struggled at Arsenal so would likely command a much lower fee.

Barcelona not giving up catching Madrid

Barcelona boss Rijkaard not giving up catching Real Madrid in the race for the Spanish League

Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard has commented on his sides fight for the title in Spain, insisting he is not worried about Real Madrid, and does not pay them any special attention. Instead he insists his focus is on what Barcelona do.

He said: "Real Madrid is the first on the table because it has so far performed better, they're the team that leads the Liga and that is not easy, because the goal of all teams is to beat them. But we're not giving up anything. I'm not watching what Real Madrid do in their games. We only worry about ourselves. The other stuff is for the press to write about."

Barcelona seem to slipping into gear at just the right time, as we enter the business end of the season. They looked sensational in Glasgow against Celtic, despite conceding two goals.

Footy focus can see signs of it not being all over for Barcelona in the race for the Spanish title. Real Madrid are showing signs of stuttering, while Barcelona are looking better by the week.

Barcelona vs Levante: Barcelona in form at just the right time

Henry confident on Barcelona prospects
Thierry Henry is confident Barcelona are finding their form at the business end of the season.He said "At last we players are all together - but we've not won anything yet," he warned.

"We're in the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey, looking good in the Champions League, and five points behind Real Madrid. We're in a good moment of form, and if we're here as a full group, so much the better."

Barcelona take on Levante on Sunday a few hours before Real Madrid entertain Getafe at the Bernabeu. This means that for a few short hours at least Barcelona can cut the gap at the top of the table to a mere two points.

It's all turning into a fascinating end of the season in Spain and Footy Focus has a gut feel that Barcelona might just catch Madrid and take the title. Barcelona are finding form at just the right time, while Madrid are starting to stutter a bit!