Referees Could Force Cristiano Ronaldo To Real Madrid

The press in Madrid have pounced on the latest rumbling of discontent from Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo.

Mar 24, 2009 9:15:59 PM

More On :  Manchester United, Cristiano Ronaldo
EPL: Cristiano Ronaldo, West Bromwich Albion v Manchester United (PA)

Spanish daily, AS have picked up on a story from England’s Daily Mail suggesting how Cristiano Ronaldo might finally have an excuse to ditch Manchester United and the Barclays Premier League for Real Madrid and the Primera Division.

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Both papers highlighted how the Portuguese ace is growing tired of the lack of protection being offered by the referees in the Premier League following his latest round of confrontations with the match official during last weekend’s game at Fulham.

Even the player’s manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, has revealed that his star winger is being ‘systematically fouled’ by opponents.

“It has become a tactic,” Ferguson was quoted as saying by the Daily Mail. “Someone fouls him, then someone else. The referee thinks he is diving and the crowd are screaming.”

The Scotsman also used a Champions League clash with Villarreal as an example of the disparity between referees in England and the rest of Europe. During that game back in November at El Madrigal, Italian referee, Roberto Rosetti sent off the Yellow Submarine left-back, Joan Capdevila for a rash tackle just above Ronaldo’s knee. And Ferguson admitted that such a foul in England would probably have not drawn a red card.

It is precisely that extra protection from La Liga referees and a less physical approach in the Spanish game that AS is convinced will attract Ronaldo and tempt him to seek an exit from Old Trafford.  

It is widely believed that Madrid already have the funds ready to sign the FIFA World Player of the Year and an agreement had been reached with Ferguson to allow the two parties to negotiate a transfer this summer and it is now strictly up to the Portuguese whether he wants to leave United for the Santiago Bernabeu.

KS Leong, Goal.com

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