Manchester United to show Ronaldo the door

SanDiego ^ | July 3, 2006 | AP

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Report: Manchester United to show Ronaldo the door, Rooney irate at teammate's role in sending off

LONDON – Portuguese winger Cristiano Ronaldo, criticized for his role in Wayne Rooney's sending off at the World Cup, won't be back at Manchester United and can expect payback from the star England striker in the future, a British newspaper said.

Quoting an unnamed source, The Sun reported Monday that Rooney threatened to “split him in two” when the two next meet.

Ronaldo may be wearing a different uniform when that happens. The British tabloid says United will show Ronaldo the door “because of his World Cup shame.”

Ronaldo, who has spoken of moving to Real Madrid, infuriated England players for his actions in United teammate Rooney's ejection Saturday. After Rooney stamped on defender Ricardo Carvalho's groin, Ronaldo rushed to the Argentina referee to complain. When Rooney was shown the red card, moments after shoving Ronaldo, cameras caught Ronaldo winking – apparently at the Portugal bench.

The Daily Mail reported that an irate Rooney tried to get into the Portugal dressing room after the match before senior players stepped in and warned he was putting his career in jeopardy.

Citing a top Football Association source, the Sun reported Rooney's rant came one day after penalty shootout loss to Portugal in the World Cup quarterfinals. Rubbing salt in the wound, Ronaldo converted the penalty kick that sealed the Portuguese win.

“At breakfast in the hotel this morning, Wayne said he would split him in two and smack him in the head. Who can blame him?” the source told The Sun. “He is determined to settle the score in his own way and there is nothing anyone can do about it.”

The newspaper also said Ronaldo had apparently joked before the game with Rooney that he would get him sent off.

The Sun has joined the anti-Ronaldo bandwagon, printing a mock dartboard with a picture of Ronaldo winking.

“Here's every England fan's chance to get revenge on the world's biggest winker,” the paper said.

Ronaldo, meanwhile, has denied asking the referee for a red card and said he was “very sorry” for Rooney.

“The English press say the referee gave a red card because I spoke (to him), but this is not true,” Ronaldo is quoted as saying on Manchester United's official Web site. “I said 'ref this is foul' but I did not say 'red card' because Wayne is my friend and I play at the same team as him.”

Ronaldo has denied any lingering bad feeling between the two players.

“The things that have been said regarding me and my teammate and friend Rooney are incredible,” Ronaldo was quoted as saying Monday on the Web site of the Gestifute agency, which represents him.

“Between me and Rooney, there is absolutely no problem.”

Still the flashy Portuguese winger can apparently expect a torrid reception from other England players.

“I saw what Ronaldo did,” said Steven Gerrard, according to English reports. “I saw him going over to the referee and giving him the card and I think he was bang out of order. If he were one of my teammates I would be absolutely disgusted with him.

“After Wayne was sent off he (Ronaldo) winked at his bench and his teammates and that just about sums him up as a person. If I were playing against a teammate from Liverpool and they were involved in a situation like that I would never try to get them sent off.”

Added fellow midfielder Frank Lampard: “He's supposed to be a teammate of Wayne's at Manchester United and he does something like that. It's not nice, is it? A lot has been made of trying to promote fair play in this tournament and that was certainly not fair play. Unfortunately that's the way it is with some players. We were told that anyone who tried to get someone else a yellow or red card would get a yellow but it just hasn't happened.”

Defender John Terry was reportedly upset at the behavior of other members of the Portuguese squad, including Chelsea teammate Carvalho. “It's really disappointing seeing that – players playing in the Premiership too. Teammates as well. It's disappointing to see them coming over doing that.”

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Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo (R) walks past England's Wayne Rooney as Rooney receives a red card during their World Cup 2006 quarter-final soccer match in Gelsenkirchen July 1, 2006.

England's Wayne Rooney (9) pushes Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo (17) as Portugal's Ricardo Carvalho lies on the pitch during their World Cup 2006 quarter-final soccer match in Gelsenkirchen July 1, 2006.

UK Sun has a printable dartboard with Ronaldo's face on it, with the "wink" he game teammates after Rooney's dismissal.

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football ping.

[dfwgator]

Maybe England should worry more about making their Penalty Kicks. Rooney should have been tossed, period.

[Eurotwit]

Someone even set up a website.

http://www.ihateronaldo.com/

I really hope nothing bad comes out of this.

It is getting out of hand.

Personally, I have never liked Ronaldo. Overrated one trick-pony that he is.

Cheers.

[decal]

"The Sun reported Monday that Rooney threatened to “split him in two” when the two next meet."

Like this?

[1066AD]

That Portuguese goalie is incredible tho'.
I hate games that end in kicks, they should keep playing until one side scores.

[paristwelve]

Ah yes, the Firms will be busy over this one. Do you know about "Firms"?

http://doj.shef.ac.uk/GroupA/Fleet/firms.htm........... You have got to see this movie to understand Football culture

Green Street HooligansI saw it Sunday night, it was a real eyeopener.

[UKRaddell]

Thanks for the heads up.
For all The Sun's bleating, Rooney got sent off for stamping on a guy; not because Ronaldo may or may not have winked.

[Rummenigge]

How can you guys live with something like the sun ?

What advantage is England taking out of it's existence ?

I like the memory of my time in England and the UK and there are many things to learn from there, humor comon sense friendlyness fairness it's all there - the sun is like a slimy green wart on the nose of a beautiful lady.

[jjbrouwer]

Ronaldo is a complete winker.

[cartan]

Well, it's not like Bild or B.Z. were any better...

[Rummenigge]

Well BILD and B.Z. are not worth the paper they are printed on - but they definetly obey some rules the sun is breaking.

Bild (I looked it up because of your posting - normaly I would never... ;-)) stated, that Italy was (at that moment) better then germany.

They payed the due respect.

As opposed to that, the Sun might blame the gardener because the lawn was to slippy and try to destroy his life.

This time england lost because Ronaldo winked to his trainer.

[cartan]

Well, to be fair, The Sun also published an article titled Hurst: Roon's to blame.

[Rummenigge]

...and a dart board with his eye in the middle.

You won't see that stuff in Bild and it's not how I know the brits.

[cartan]

You don't often talk to them about soccer then, I take it :-)

[Rummenigge]

actually the engineers at BMW Oxford told me football was for thugs - they'd enjoy golf (roll eyes) - but then there was an older senior technician who would sell his last shirt for an arsenal ticket and learned that they are all footballers (only some don't dare say)

These guys are tough as shit and stubborn bastards but they are of that kind that would say 'sorry' to the opponents fans as in a reflex while England (or Wales or Scottland) scores.

I am certainly aware that these are my personal prejudices

Ahh another story comes to my mind - please spend the time reading it:

There was this guy in the hotel where I was checked in. He introduced himself and I must say he had perfect manners - the type of guy you would trust to go out with your daughter. He was a very physical guy - so physical it nearly stood in contrast to his behaviour.

He asked me very politely where I was from and what I was doing in England. So I told him. During the started conversation he never interupted - never bragged with something.

He told me his job was to be a trainer of martial arts - Karate, Jui Jitzu - stuff like that and here (in Oxford) to accompany his pupils gaining the 8th or 9th dan (something high and black you have to travel for - I am not an expert)

After some questioning from my side - he seemed eager not to be to forward in his pride for his occupancy - he told me some details about his daily business:

The last day - he told me - he had to whitness (as he said with a bit of disgust) 'exaggerated physical force' in a preparation fight for the tests.

And he (beeing of quite a sun eclipsing statue) told that if (angry look) somebody (dramatic pause) dared (I started to feel a bit uncomfortable) to behave like that to one of his pupils !!!

Then !!!

He would personally and immediatly !!!!

...turn around and leave.

Britain.

Gotta love it.

And that's why I think it's a shame what the sun is doing.

[cartan]

Sure, I like the Brits myself—I read The Spectator every week :-). I used to share an office with an Englishman. Really nice guy, big soccer fan. Ex-soldier, ex-hockey player. Extremely polite, all the time. Except...when he was talking about soccer :-) For years, he would go on and on and on about how the English team was the greatest and most able of all, and how it was always somebody else's fault when they lost, be it the ref, supposed cheaters, the weather, anything. And how other teams never deserved anything they achieved. When they won, it was always only by luck, and through cheating. It could get really annoying, sometimes. But then, it was always fun, too. I miss him.

[Rummenigge]

Some peoples charm lies in their spleen.

[paristwelve]

: England v Brazil.....


It is just before England v Brazil at the next World Cup Group game.

Ronaldinho goes into the Brazilian changing room to find all his team-mates looking a bit glum.
"What's up?" he asks. "Well, we're having trouble getting motivated for this game. We know it's important
but it's only England. They're sh*te and we can't be bothered".

Ronaldinho looks at them and says "Well, I reckon I can beat these by myself, you lads go down the pub."
So Ronaldinho goes out to play England by himself and the rest of the Brazilian team go off for a few jars.

After a few pints they wonder how the game is going, so they get the landlord to put the teletext on. A big
cheer goes up as the screen reads "Brazil 1 - England 0 (Ronaldinho 10minutes)". He is beating England all
by himself! Anyway, a few more pints later and the game is forgotten until someone remembers "It must be
full time now, let's see how he got on".

They put the teletext on.

"Result from the Stadium "Brazil 1 (Ronaldinho 10 minutes) - England 1 (Crouch 89 minutes)". They can't
believe it, he has single handedly got a draw against England!!

They rush back to the Stadium to congratulate Ronaldinho. They find him in the dressing room, still in his
gear, sat with his head in his hands. He refuses to look at them.

"I've let you down, I've let you down."

"Don't be daft, you got a draw against England, all by yourself. And they only scored at the very, very
end!"

"No, No, I have, I've let you down... I got sent off after 12 minutes"