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Sir Alex Ferguson has played down speculation claiming Cristiano Ronaldo could leave Manchester United

"The boy's happy here. Everything's fine, there are no issues," said Ferguson.

"Speculation is always rife. I think in modern day football you have to accept it.

"I pick up the paper sometimes and read the players I'm going to buy. I say 'Well that's an interesting one, I've never thought of him'. So you're doing my scouting now.

"It's speculation, you're going to get that. It doesn't bother me. It's always an attraction in a better climate, obviously. It's always going to be that way.

"When you think about it what you can get at Manchester United, every week 76,000 people, you're not going to get that anywhere.

"I know that Real Madrid, Barcelona and Milan when they've got big games they can fill the place without question. They don't fill them every week.

"Old Trafford is full every week which is fantastic. He knows he's at a good football club."

Cristiano Ronaldo was a proud man after captaining Portugal for the first time in Tuesday's friendly win over Brazil at the Emirates Stadium in London.

"It was very good for me (to be captain), but the responsibility is always the same," Ronaldo told reporters after the game.

"My goal in the team is to always play well and to help with my best form."

"This win is special because we beat Brazil, but there are two important games coming and these are the ones that count," Ronaldo added.

It was a first defeat as coach for Brazil's Dunga, who took over the national team after the World Cup and has taken charge of six friendlies.

With the Copa America coming up in June, Dunga wants his team to learn from Tuesdy's result.

"The team needs more movement, to keep the ball more and create more chances," he said.

"We have some weak points that have already appeared, so there is a lot left to improve."

Dunga added that he had "70%" of his squad in mind for the Copa America, but warned that nobody was guaranteed a starting place.

"It depends on the performances of the players on the day, how they behave, how they are physically," he said. "Nobody can relax."

LISBON - Manchester United's Portuguese winger Cristiano Ronaldo has what it takes to shortly become a captain of Portugal's national team, Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has said.

"I think during my time in Portugal he will become one of the captains of our team because he has the charisma for it, he has potential," he told a news conference to announce his 20-man squad for a Euro 2008 qualifier.

"He is young but he is learning very quickly how to lead a group," added Scolari, who is under contract with Portugal until 2008.

The Brazilian coach said Ronaldo's promotion to captain as well as the recovery from a lengthy injury of Deportivo Coruna's Portuguese defender Jorge Andrade would help make up for the retirement earlier this year of playmakers Luis Figo and Pauleta from international football.

Ronaldo, 21, has made 42 appearances for Portugal since he made his debut for the squad on August 20, 2003 against Kazakhstan. He has scored 14 times.

Scolari named both Ronaldo and Andrade in his 20-man squad which will face Kazakhstan in a Euro 2008 group A qualifier at home on November 15. Benfica striker Nuno Gomes was designated the captain of the squad for that match.

---http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Un0xDNcr6bM portugal-brazil----

CR ennen matsia:

"It's always gratifying to face a team like Brazil, but if you ask me whether I'd prefer to win this match or the ones against Serbia and Belgium in March, then I've got no doubts whatsoever. For Portugal the Euro qualifiers are more important than any friendly as there's a Cup at the end of a long struggle," reasoned the birthday boy. "It's great to win, and I always play to win, and I know the folks back home want us to beat Brazil, but when it comes down to the crunch then the key is the Euro 2008. We came close in 2004 and now want to win with a passion," he explained to Sportugal.

Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari said Cristiano Ronaldo would enjoy a big boost in his career if he joined European champions Barcelona.

"Barcelona would hugely enjoy having Cristiano in their team because he would complement Ronaldinho perfectly," the Brazilian was quoted as saying by The Sun on Monday.

"For Cristiano, the Barcelona climate would be important, most days are sunny and it's hardly ever cold like England.

"Cristiano needs to move somewhere where the team is an integral part of the club, not somewhere where the system is based on individual heroes or stars," he said.

"Moving to a club where there are four or five 'stars' who do their own thing is unworkable."

---happy birthday CR---

//nää tekstit on niille jotka haluaa seuraa ronadoa ja sitä mitä se tekee,koska monet ei tiedä mistä ronaldosta voi lukea koska ei asuta englannissa ja ei täällä ketää lue englannin uutisia. Joten on se ihan kivaa lukea näit päivittäin jos kiinnostaa// kiitos

4.2.2007 20:12

----Manchester United palasi kuuden pisteen karkumatkalle Valioliigan kärjessä hulppean 0-4-vierasvoiton turvin Tottenhamista sunnuntaina.


Valioliigakauden ykköstähti Cristiano Ronaldo pelasi Unitedin oikealla laidalla jälleen mykistävästi.

Portugalilaislaituri hankki nopeudellaan joukkueelleen hieman kyseenalaisen rangaistuspotkun avausjakson lopulla. Rangaistuspilkulta Ronaldo ei erehtynyt ja nousi kauden 15:nnellä liigamaalillaan maalipörssin kärkeen yhdessä Chelsean Didier Drogban kanssa.

Tottenham jäi jyrän alle

United vyörytti toisen jakson alkuun hyökkäyksiään entistä kärkkäämmin. Tottenham-puolustus uinui 48. minuutilla, kun ManU-toppari Nemanja Vidic pääsi vapaasti puskemaan pallon Michael Carrickin kulmapotkusta maaliin yli Tottenham-vahti Paul Robinsonin käsien.

Reilu viisi minuuttia myöhemmin Ronaldon jalat tikkasivat uuden ompelukoneen tahtia, ja Tottenhamin laitapuolustaja Lee Young-Pyo oli hetkessä kolme askelta portugalilaista perässä. Ronaldon syöttö maalin eteen ponnahti Robinsonin käsistä maaliviivalle liukuneelle Paul Scholesille, joka tökkäsi takapuolellaan pelivälineen verkkoon.

Lannistettu Tottenham päästi vielä yhden maalin, kun Ryan Giggs karkasi läpi Louis Sahan syötöstä 77. minuutilla.

Tainiota ei nähty kentällä

United oli käyttänyt jo kaikki vaihtonsa, joista viimeisimpänä peliveralle astellut John O'Shea sai kunnian pukea maalivahdin varusteet ylleen viimeiseksi 10 minuutiksi. Irlantilaispuolustaja ehti torjua muun muassa Robbie Keanen läpiajon oikea-aikaisella vastaantulolla.---

http://youtube.com/watch?v=t_ot0MkgIl4

Manchester United maintained their six-point lead over the Premiership on Wednesday as they produced a dominant second half display to thrash Watford 4-0 at Old Trafford.

A Cristiano Ronaldo penalty midway through the first half put them ahead after Jay DeMerit had pulled back Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the area.

Watford nearly equalised when Chris Powell's cross hit the post but when Lloyd Doyley deflected in Kieran Richardson's cross it was all but over.

Substitute Henrik Larsson sidefooted home his first Premiership goal and Wayne Rooney scored with a fine lob.

It was a routine victory for Sir Alex Ferguson's men, who made it nine straight wins at home and maintained their six point lead at the top of the league.

Watford went into the game 42 points behind United, without a win away from home and having never won a league game at Old Trafford.

And with the Hornets struggling with injuries at the back it looked ominous, particularly when Rooney opened up the defence for Solskjaer in the opening minute only for Jordan Stewart to intervene.

But United had obviously been studying the formbook and with overconfidence flowing through the side they were guilty of some seriously sloppy play.

Rooney went close with a header from a Richardson cross but other than that United were finding it hard to break through Watford's defensive roadblock.

They were given a helping hand when DeMerit wasted all their early efforts by needlessly tugging on Solskjaer's shirt and Mike Dean had little hesitation in pointing to the spot.

Ronaldo, who was given the FifPro young player of the year award prior to kick-off, even managed some theatrics taking a penalty as he faked before sending Richard Lee the wrong way.

Watford's only win at Old Trafford was as a Third Division side in the League Cup in 1978 when they came from a goal down.

History was never seriously in danger of repeating itself, although Powell went close to a freakish equaliser when his deep cross caught out Kuszczak and hit the far post.

Nemanja Vidic twice went close with free headers from Michael Carrick corners and Richardson saw a shot deflected narrowly over the bar as the half came to a close.

But it took until 60 minutes for United to enjoy any kind of sustained pressure on the Watford goal, with Solskjaer, Rooney and Richardson all unable to convert.

When the second arrived it was cruel luck on Watford as Richardson's left-wing cross arrowed off the head of Lloyd Doyley and past Lee.

Lee did brilliantly to deny a further own goal from Adrian Mariappa but the third soon arrived when Larsson - minutes after coming on - was spoon-fed by Rooney and he casually slotted in his first Premiership goal.

United saved their best for last as Ronaldo's brilliant pass was controlled by Rooney before he lobbed a shot over Lee and just under the bar for his fourth goal in three games.

Ronaldo went close to a fifth when he fired against the post.

http://premierleague.com/en/images/match_photos_184x77/ronaldo18438.jpg

Manchester United maintained their six-point lead at the Barclays Premiership summit with an Old Trafford victory stroll against rock-bottom Watford.

After Cristiano Ronaldo had slammed the hosts in front with his 14th goal of the season and Lloyd Doyley had doubled their lead with an unfortunate own goal, Henrik Larsson and Wayne Rooney also found the target as United recorded their biggest win since a similar-sized success at Bolton Wanderers three months ago.

With Ronaldo and Rooney - both restored to FergusonÂ’s starting line-up - growing in influence, so the Red Devils started to carve out an increasing number of chances.

The Red Devils maintained their focus after the break, too, with Rooney and Ronaldo both going close before Richardson curled over the cross which Doyley, with Ronaldo breathing down his neck, stuck out his head to nod into his own net.

The Portugal man started it with a searing run across the visitorsÂ’ box, chipping the ball over WatfordÂ’s startled defence to Rooney, who promptly launched his shot high over Lee before watching it drop into the goal.

It was hardly surprising some of the fire went out of UnitedÂ’s play after that, although only the base of a post denied a Ronaldo shot which would have completed their biggest win of the campaign.

Sir Alex Ferguson has slapped a 'not for sale' notice on Cristiano Ronaldo.

Reports in Spain suggest Real Madrid are preparing a massive £35million offer for the 21-year-old, who expressed a desire to join the club during last summer's World Cup.

Earlier this week, Ferguson's assistant Carlos Queiroz suggested United were ready to open contract negotiations with Ronaldo, even though the Portugal international's present deal does not expire until 2010.

Ferguson joked he would be 'in a wheelchair' by that time, although he was deadly serious when he stated Real have no chance of getting their man.

"We sell players we want to sell and there is absolutely no way Cristiano Ronaldo is leaving," he said.

"The boy has done fantastically well. He is developing as a professional, as a person and as a player.

"He is happy here. He has a contract until 2010 and we are not interested in even thinking about selling him."

Manchester United assistant coach Carlos Queiroz has shrugged off reported interest from Real Madrid about star winger Cristiano Ronaldo, insisting the player is going nowhere.

Reports in the Spanish press on Wednesday suggest Ronaldo will be the big summer target for Madrid, who were also heavily linked to the Portuguese international last year.

However, Queiroz, who was manager at Madrid in 2003, is adamant the 21-year-old is not for sale.

"No (to a possible transfer). In addition to that, we are speaking with him about renewing his contract," Queiroz said in Marca.

Ronaldo's current contract ties him to Old Trafford until 2010.

"The club have a clear policy. It is not necessary that a player has to finish his contract before we think about renewing it," Queiroz added.

"(Ryan) Giggs has been with us for 14 years and he has renewed his contract many times.

"This club do not need the agents to recognise the work of the players.

"We anticipate things ourselves and that is what we are going to do with Cristiano."

Speculation about a possible Madrid swoop for Ronaldo hit fever pitch during last summer's World Cup.

Ronaldo twice declared he wanted to quit Old Trafford for Spain, the second time coming in the wake of his antics in the World Cup quarter-final against England, where he appeared to be involved in getting United club-mate Wayne Rooney sent off.

However, Ronaldo ended up staying in Manchester and has been a revelation this season, scoring 13 goals already to help United go clear at the top of the Premiership.

And Queiroz believes it is the way of the sport that rival teams such as Madrid will be linked to the player, who was a £12.24million signing from Sporting Lisbon in August 2003.

"It is natural that the media talk about Cristiano Ronaldo with Real Madrid. He is a great player and Madrid are a great club, but it is just speculation. They are fantasises," said Queiroz.

"The football that he is playing in Manchester is an example that he is happy here and he has his head at United. He has talent and is the best in the world.

"He is always the first to arrive at training and the last to go.

"Many times when the session has finished, we shower, eat and then we look at the pitch and he is still training," said Queiroz about his fellow Portuguese.

"He is a player who has a divine gift. He was born to be the best in the world."


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOQtIRvxQ7M