Gear Bag
Madrid Turned Down Ronaldo
(Goal.com) - Luis Martins, Sporting Lisbon's former youth team coach, has revealed that Real Madrid turned down a chance to sign Cristiano Ronaldo in 2003.
Martins, who coached Ronaldo for three years, from 1997 to 2000, has revealed how Real Madrid looked at him in 2003, before deciding not to sign him.
"I was in Madrid in 2003 to complete my training as a coach," said Martins.
"By then the Real Madrid scouts had already followed Cristiano, and it appeared that they were already in contact with Sporting to sign him.
"I recommended him to them. I do not know why they did not sign him."
Martins also revealed Ronaldo had always wanted to do well in Spain.
"Cristiano has always said the same thing to me, that he wants to succeed in Spain, which he considers to be the best league in the world.
"And he is not going to stop until he achieves it."
Of course, 2003 was the year Los Merengues pipped Barcelona to David Beckham, the Catalans pipped Manchester United to Ronaldinho, and the Red Devils picked up the Portuguese winger.
For more soccer news visit Goal.com
Comments
If they only knew???????
Posted by: wolfen | February 15, 2007 05:17 PM
I'm glad Ronaldo did go to england, because if he had gone to Spain there would be even more diving from him. He is starting to adjust better, staying on his feet and passing the ball more, and doing better for his team in general. If he went to Spain, where the pace is slower and more trickery is involved, he would probably be diving even more than he did a couple years ago.
Posted by: Adam | February 16, 2007 08:00 AM
It is good for Ronaldo to stay at Old Traford for another five years, because I know for sure he still need to learn more about football and sir Alex is a good coach. But In Spain's Clubs will obvious need to use him and not to train him like with Red Devils.
Posted by: Revelian S. N | February 16, 2007 09:11 AM
Cristiano is the next big thing in football everyone wants him on their team all the big name clubs, I think he should stay where he is at he has a teammate in Rooney also a great soccer player having both of them on your team is great I think Cristiano should stay at Man U I think Rooney and Ronaldo will win a lot of championships together and they will be to great wining everything.
Posted by: Jorge | February 17, 2007 10:22 AM
Christiano Ronaldo, Samuel Eto'o, Robinho and David Beckham have no respect for the sport that made them famous. They are soccers axis of evil. I love soccer, football whatever you want to call it, but I feel like it is at a low point. The disrespect (Samuel Eto'o), unsportsmanship (Ronaldo), arrogance (Robinho) and all of the above (Beckham) is really starting to grind my friggin gears. I'm not saying they should all be punished but someone has to be made an example of. These players have to be brought down from the stratospere and back on the ground. They have tremendous skills and should be thankful for the fame and fortune it brought them. Would it kill these players to be a little humble or respectful? And for anyone who reads this and posts something like they have a right to be that way because they are so good--I say Rubbish. Nobody is bigger than the game. Never in my life did I hear of a player refusing to go on as a substitute, or a player dashing the hopes of a country with a sly little wink, or going to the media to get what he wants, or saying that a club and city is not big enough for me--disgusting!
Posted by: giova * * * * | February 17, 2007 01:31 PM
The good old days are gone!the real passion,the respect.....it's just a business today.
Posted by: wolfen | February 17, 2007 06:15 PM
Yeah Gio, I agree with you. These guy are all hired guns, except Becky Beckham cuz he shoots blanks! They have no loyalty at all & no class & they all come from poor humble beginings. Goes to show you can take the boy out of the gutter but you cant take the gutter out of the boy!
Posted by: Reggie Bannister | February 17, 2007 06:55 PM
I am so glad that Ronaldo went to Man. U. because first of all, I am a big fan of Man. U. Second, if he went to Real Madrid, then he would be a good player as he is today. There are so many good players at Madrid where he will barely gotten a chance to play. I am not saying he won't be good at all but it will take times for him.
Posted by: kapi | February 24, 2007 02:29 AM
Ronaldo is a slow killing terminal cancer. I feel sorry for Man U fans because sooner or later he's going to bring that team down. He'll walk out on them or demand a transfer. That's just the kind of guy he is. So Kapi, if your happy, enjoy it while you can. You know as well as I do terminal cancer is inevitably fatal.
Posted by: giova * * * * | February 24, 2007 09:38 AM
RONALDO SHOULD GO TO REAL MADRID
Posted by: ALONSO | February 11, 2008 09:15 PM