Cristiano Ronaldo - New Contract

I don't think that it is funny that a few Irish commentators are quite critical of Ronaldo. He's just a "kid" (22 years old) and comes from a relatively small team (Sporting Clube de Portugal). However, most of us here in Portugal, especially Sporting fans, believe that he is still a diamond in the rough and that in the not too distant future he will prove his worth on the international level. All footballers make mistakes....why should he be any exception. He is a phenomanem at the moment, no bout a doubt it, but I believe that as time goes by he will prove his overall worth whether it be in MU or in Real Madrid. It appears that he is in MU until 2012 (5 more years) and I believe that he and Rooney will make British football history. I'm a distant MU fan...mainly because I cannot stand Mourinho and his arrogance. I'm pulling for MU in the Premier League and in the Championship League. I pray that I won't be a curse to the team. Always nice to see you emisle. Didn't realize that we had sports and football in common.

I didn't mean it's funny as in ha ha! I meant it in a, how shall I say, it's strange! Even that's not quite the word I'm looking for but it's the closest I have! Sorry for confusing you, it's just the way I speak...It's so hard sometimes to get across what you mean just by typing it! And Ronaldo got another goal today in Man U's 4-1 win over Watford which puts them into the FA cup final..:) And the commentators do think he's a good player, but they don't agree with people who say he's the greatest player in the world as they don't think he's there yet, but I do think he's improving all the time and that he's been a very important player for Man U with all the goals he's both scored and set up And I've been a Man U fan for a good few years now..:) I really hope they can keep Chelsea at bay and clinch the league title.

And I think that he deserves the money, not just for his contribution on the pitch, but he's sold quite a few no. 7 jerseys off it!..A fantastic replacement for David Beckham. And Roy Keane is currently managing the top team in league 1 so it looks like they'll be playing Man U in the league next year, what a reunion that will be..:)

First of all, I am not portuguese. I am an Âmerican who loves sports...Unfortunately the only sport in town in Portugal is football...although the Portuguese have been outstanding in atheltics. I am against any player who "dive" reglarless who they are or for what team they play. However, there is a difference....theatre is one thing and diving is another. Ronaldo suffers a great number of fouls where he dives or not...as do other footballers in other leages. As for price of admintance I quite agree with you. In England it is quite different than in Portugal in that the teams are usually owned by someone or some group. Here in Portugal, although they are on the local stock exchange it still depends on the "socios" (club members). There is no control of prices although I beçoeve there should be. When I first arrived in Portugal in 1976 the stadiums where always full. Then prices were increased up to the present date when perhaps close the majority of the Portugues cannot afford admission, especially if he wants to take his family with him. I, too, believe that the true spirit of the game has diminished in the recent future but I am hopeful that it has not dispapeared completely. It would be a shame that the "king of sports" were to become so impregnated with corruption and mafiosas to the point where football is not a viable "business", sport. Right now football/soccer is the game seem most throughtout the world and it would be a shame that tommorrow because of lack of interest, corruption or stupidity the world's favorite sport would secas to exist. Thanks so much for dropping by and for your inputç

No problem....really doesn't make that much difference. And your are most welcome.

Sorry for the misunderstanding over your nationality and thanks for the response to my discussion.

Hi! I think he already has at the tender age of 22. He just received Best Footballer and Best Young Footballer for England 2006-2007. It is the first time that has happened in England since 1977...name of the footballer escapes me at the moment but I think it was Andy something. He is certainly something else again, that's for sure. Let's just hope that he doesn't suffer a severe injury down the road that would take him out of the race to surpass Maradona and Pelé. Thanks for dropping by. +

Not his father....MU's assistant coach Carlos Queiroz. Sporting bought it for him when he was Sporting's head coach quite a few years ago. Ronaldo's father passed away last year. I live in an apt building that overlooks his residence but there are no houses in between. I agree that Ronaldo made the right choice. There was an article in the sports paper here saying that Beckham told him to stay were he was and not make the same mistake he did. I guess that statement might have been the trick that made him stay. Thanks for dropping by and for your input.

I agree with you. As for grooming...Sporting has one of the best, if not THE best formation academy in the world. Besides Ronaldo it was also responsible for Figo and Paulo Futre (presently a Director of Atletico Madrid and former player), as well as Ricardo Quaresma and Simao Sabrosa both ex-Barcelona. Most of these players were transferred at an early age and Sporting has made a profit. Right now the idea is to use the ponies in the stable and groom them a little longer than they have done in the past. We have a good young team....mostly Portuguese players, unlike Porto and Benfica whose line-ups are at least 75% foreign. Thanks for dropping by and for your input. PS: In shipping there is a term for a vessel Ro-Ro which means roll on roll off. I have often wondered why the Brits don't use the term for ROnaldo and ROoney. or RO-RO for short. Just a thought.

I don't agree. Cristian Ronaldo is unique. Thanks for dropping by and for your input.

You are vern astute in your response. I agree with you...the money is not really the issue but sometimes I think that clubs go overboard in their competition for what they think are the best plays only to find out later that the players were not worth the paper that their contract was written on. However, in the case of Ronaldo I firmly believe that in his present state of mind and physical being he is worth anything that whatever club wants to pay however atrocious it may seem to us little people who find it difficult to get by from day to day. Thanks so much for dropping by and for your input.