Ronaldo confirms: I want out
By Graeme Bailey - Created on 9 Jul 2006
Cristiano Ronaldo has rocked Manchester United by confirming that he does indeed want to quit Old Trafford.
Signs that Ronaldo was unsettled first emerged earlier this month when he confirmed that he had spoken to one of Real Madrid’s presidential candidates about a move to Spain.
Since then Ronaldo has infamously clashed with team-mate Wayne Rooney during Portugal’s quarter-final success over England, the 21-year-old seeming to urge referee Horacio Elizondo to red card his club team-mate for his stamp on Ricardo Carvalho.
Rooney was indeed sent off, and ever since Ronaldo has been roundly booed during the finals.
The former Sporting Lisbon winger, who only signed a new long-term contract late last year, stated that a decision on his future would be made following the World Cup.
And after Portugal’s 3-1 third place play-off defeat to Germany, Ronaldo admitted that he wants to quit The Red Devils.
"I think I should get out of Manchester, the circumstances are not right to keep playing in Manchester," said Ronaldo, who confirmed that a move to La Liga — possibly with Real - is his preferred option.
"In two or three days I will decide where to go. I always said I wanted to play in Spain.
"Nobody stood up for me at Manchester, although I did not do anybody any harm."
The news is sure to be a huge blow to Sir Alex Ferguson, who has nurtured Ronaldo since his £12 million arrival from Portugal in 2003.
He has already highlighted Ronaldo and Rooney as the future of United, but now it seems he has a real battle on his hands to keep the former.
smelling a panicking chicken here,
