CARLOS SAYS RONALDO IS STAYING

Last updated : 29 June 2005 By Ed

This is in today's Mirror which contradicts yesterday's Mirror story which said Ronaldo was going to Barca. Story by David Anderson.

Quieroz:

"We have a project for the next 10 years and that is built around keeping players of his quality and adding to them.

"All the players that we now have at the club, we want to keep in the squad.

"I have heard nothing from Barcelona. All I know is that we have a commitment from Cristiano, who is a Manchester United player."

United insist he could sign his new contract as early as next week.

Mirror yesterday:

By Martin Lipton


Barcelona are ready to take advantage of Manchester United's failure to agree a new contract with Cristiano Ronaldo by tabling a £20million bid for the Portuguese winger.

United hoped they had seen off the predatorial clutches of the La Liga giants when they rebuffed Real Madrid's initial approaches for the 20-year-old speedster. But while the Old Trafford club believed Ronaldo and his representatives were using Real's interest to improve his contract position and confidently predicted a new deal was imminent, there has still been no agreement.

And the newly-crowned Spanish champions have privately began briefing that Ronaldo is keen on linking up with boss Frank Rijkaard at the Nou Camp and returning to the warmer climate of Spain.

The Spanish side believe that Malcolm Glazer's takeover has only brought instability to United and that the American tycoon needs to get his hands on ready cash to help service the massive debt he incurred in buying the club.