Man Untied boss Ferguson: We wish Ronaldo the best
Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson says he holds no bad feeling towards Cristiano Ronaldo following his move to Real Madrid, and admits that he and Carlos Queiroz had long since come to terms with the fact that the Portuguese would one day leave Old Trafford.
Fifa World Player of the Year Ronaldo ended his six-year association with the English champions this summer when he signed for Real in a world-record 94m-euro move. Having long stated his ambition to play in Spain, the departure of the former Sporting man was something Ferguson had been desperately battling against for several years.
“We had a good relationship with the boy,” Ferguson said on Monday when presenting his summer recruits, Michael Owen, Gabriel Obertan and Luis Antonio Valencia, to the press.
“As he explained to us what he felt, it was exactly the way (former assistant manager) Carlos Queiroz and I had thought it would be two or three years ago. We never ever thought we would be able to keep him for a long time and we are very proud to have had him for six years, we are very pleased at that.
“He’s taken this opportunity for another challenge and I respect that because he was a fantastic player for us. He was a good lad, we never had any problems, and we wish him well.”
During Madrid’s long pursuit of Ronaldo, Ferguson famously insisted that he “wouldn’t sell that mob a virus” and regularly stated his belief that the Portuguese would remain in Manchester for several years.
“I’m very sympathetic,” joked Ferguson. “I nearly cried when he came to see me.”
Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson says he holds no bad feeling towards Cristiano Ronaldo following his move to Real Madrid, and admits that he and Carlos Queiroz had long since come to terms with the fact that the Portuguese would one day leave Old Trafford.
Fifa World Player of the Year Ronaldo ended his six-year association with the English champions this summer when he signed for Real in a world-record 94m-euro move. Having long stated his ambition to play in Spain, the departure of the former Sporting man was something Ferguson had been desperately battling against for several years.
“We had a good relationship with the boy,” Ferguson said on Monday when presenting his summer recruits, Michael Owen, Gabriel Obertan and Luis Antonio Valencia, to the press.
“As he explained to us what he felt, it was exactly the way (former assistant manager) Carlos Queiroz and I had thought it would be two or three years ago. We never ever thought we would be able to keep him for a long time and we are very proud to have had him for six years, we are very pleased at that.
“He’s taken this opportunity for another challenge and I respect that because he was a fantastic player for us. He was a good lad, we never had any problems, and we wish him well.”
During Madrid’s long pursuit of Ronaldo, Ferguson famously insisted that he “wouldn’t sell that mob a virus” and regularly stated his belief that the Portuguese would remain in Manchester for several years.
“I’m very sympathetic,” joked Ferguson. “I nearly cried when he came to see me.”
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