PSX5Central
Non Gaming Discussions => Off-Topic => Topic started by: CHIZZY on June 10, 2003, 10:11:02 AM
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http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20030610/sp_nm/soccer_beckham_move_dc
ZUH?
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There are various stipulations that have to be met before this will happen. That Laporta guy becoming club president is one of them.
Apparently Beckham is pretty shocked by this story and has made it clear he wants to remain at united for the forseeable future.
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I heard that he accepted the offer.
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Beckham will leave united this summer
Beckham wont join Barcelona this summer.
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Amen Rick, because MARCA (the best sport newspaper in Spain) has just confirmed that Beckham has signed up for Real Madrid and that the player will be shown in few days.
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He is replacable. It\'s a blow to us but meh, we have the money to have anyone we want.
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he is def on the move, i think the way man utd have treated him is very bad.... i think he will go to real, or a italian club
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We\'ll get £30million for him, for that we could get Ronaldinho, Kewell, Kluivert, Robinson so a great deal IMO. He\'s got too big for the biggest club in the world, I blame his cow of a wife. I really hate her!
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you will not get all those playes for that money,
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Florentino offers €20 million and players. Do u accept Rick? :D
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Depends what players. Raul?! Only kiddin, Makelele would be good. We would get those players for that much. PSG are gonna sell ronnie for £9mill, leeds will sell kewell for £8mill, same goes for robinson, that leaves £5mill for kluivert, he could be as little as £1.5mill, so we\'d have change left over! Looks like we may go for Makay though
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They have spoken about Solari and Geremi... I don\'t really know. Yep, news have said that Manchester will buy Makay, he\'s a good shooter.
BTW, many people confirms here that Beckham has already signed up for Real.. what they say over there?
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Beckham hasn\'t signed anything yet as far as I know as he is still in the US with his wife.
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Well Kurt that wouldn\'t be a problem indeed...
Many say that Beckham has a signed pre-contract since the Real Madrid - Manchester match.
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Same thing happened last year with rio ferdinand, apparently pre-signed before the world cup. He\'ll be off to Real now, theyve admitted an interest
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The funny point is that Real emitted a press communicate 1 month ago or so in which they denied the interest of Beckham :)
It\'s ironic the work of our new president: in 4 years he has erased the debt and has brought us Figo, Zidane, Ronaldo and now Beckham.
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Looks like he could be going to Real after all, here is some info I found.
Real Madrid have taken another giant step towards signing David Beckham by promising Manchester United they will not bid for Ronaldinho if they agree to sell them the England skipper.
The Brazilian forward has emerged as a target for both clubs in recent weeks, but a report in the Daily Mirror claims that Real are so desperate to land Beckham that they will scrap a planned £20million swoop for the PSG star, clearing the way for United.
PSG coach Luis Fernandez also gave credence to the alleged pact by admitting that he expects the two clubs to have their way.
"It is my opinion that Beckham will join Real Madrid this summer and Ronaldinho will end up playing for Manchester United" he revealed.
Yesterday, the paper went as far as to suggest that Beckham has already held talks with Real about moving to the Bernabeu, with wife Victoria also present.
Real officials reassured Becks that he would be a first team regular, be given a free role, be their only big signing of the summer, and be given the coveted No 7 shirt.
Another meeting is planned for June 23, the final day of the Spanish season, where contractual details will be discussed.
Meanwhile, United defender Mikael Silvestre believes his club will recruit well enough over the summer to offset the potential loss of their star midfielder.
The Frenchman told The Sun: "It won\'t change the balance of the team very much. Ronaldinho and Beckham do not play in the same position."
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T-shirt n. 7? :laughing::laughing::laughing:
N.7 is the number of Raul, the GOD. Forget that number boy.
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I hate Victoria!
I can\'t believe Sir Alex has treated Beckham like this cause he\'s been so loyal to us and even signed a new contract.
But he can\'t stay at Man United and rot on the bench.
I\'m really upset he\'s going but if he was going anywhere I\'d be happy if it was Real Madrid
Robinson?Kewell?Kluivert?Ronaldinho?Makay?Thuram?Southgate?
lovely!I\'d have all them in a United shurt next season...
never mind Becks,Arsene Wenger should be the one whos worried about his future after we show them up in the Premiership AND European Cup (again) next season and he ends up running off crying to Real Madrid.
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looks like this will be your new avatar then Adan ;)
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Originally posted by Adan
It\'s ironic the work of our new president: in 4 years he has erased the debt and has brought us Figo, Zidane, Ronaldo and now Beckham.
yeah right, erased the debt, that\'s bullshit, you don\'t erase a 500 mil debt in just a couple of years. If real madrid were to be a normal company they would be bankrupt instantly
* sigh* if only dutch clubs were allowed to spend as much money over their budget as real and get away with it
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LOL Kurt :laughing:
politiepet: Perez is one of the greatest business men of Spain. He has lot of money and has a considerable power in both Madrid and Spain. He became president of a big construction company and not only erased the debt of more than €1000 million, but in the following year the firm won more than €300 million. Nowadays, his firm is one of the most important of Europe.
When he showed his intention of become Real\'s President, everybody supported him. Why? Because he\'s a real business man, he does know how to do things. He elected a sport manager (valdano) and he devoted himself to the club and money.
Real had about €100 million debt, he planned and strategy and the club currently debts 0€. All legal, all fair, 100% good.
So if the clubs runs ok, we have a great team and the supporters are also alright... it\'s thank to our president.
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I really doubt that, I\'m sorry
real madrid is not debt free
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u doubt what dude?
REAL MADRID is actually free of debt. Totally. Absolutelly.
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you sure? I read somewhere the total debt of the clubs in the primera division was over 1000mil
on the other hand, real madrid does have the largest budget of all the clubs in the world.....hmmm
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yes, poli, the primera division (as you said) has a great debt... 1000 million €? Nah... a little less. Bacrlona has, for example, 60 million. it has not even money to buy a good player. Look at the team and the position in the league and you will notice. :)
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I\'m kind of a barcelona fan (in the primera division anyway) so I have to agree with you with pain in my heart, but there\'s always a way to find the money for a club like barcelona so I doubt they will leave it at that.
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I\'m a fan of Real, as you all know, which means that somehow I hate Barcelona, so the pain of that club and its supporters is a happy situation to real madrid fans and me.
The problem of Barcelona is the management. It has had 3 presidents in 4 months... no one has known how to manage a club. They\'\'ve wasted the money and bought sh¡t of players... they have no team right now. They\'re a disaster.
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kewell said he will not go to man utd, as he saw what it was like for rio to leave leeds, and kewell has to much respect for the leeds fans...
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Well Kewell is going somewhere, so i wouldnt be surprised. He didnt wipe Reals debt, the king did by paying them a $shit load of money for their training ground!
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Spanish newspapers say that in THE SUN there are pictures of the meeting between Real and Manchester for Beckham... and the negotiations are alright :)
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Becks himself doesn\'t want to leave but if he had to go anywhere I\'d be happy to see him join Real Madrid.
where are they going to accomodate him?I\'ve heard that they will play him in the center of midfield.
If Real really want him then they should let us have Geremi.
How are the negotiations going with Middlesborough Adan?
I\'ve heard that they are nowhere near agreeing a fee yet.
Any developments over the weekend?
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I don\'t know dude, but if Manchester wants Geremi... it will get him, sure.
The position of Beckham? I guess they put it in the middle, and a little back Makelele. U should ask that question to the Arselan\'s coach, that will be the next person in charge for the next season here ;)
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do you think Wenger will leave Arsenal?
If so then so will Viera and he may bring him to Real with him.
I hope Real realise that if they sign Becks,then the commercial revenue will go through the roof!cause the name alone makes money!
He may still be wearing the red of Manchester United next season.He has never said himself that he wants to leave but it\'s a shame that players now don\'t get a say in it anymore.
So Adan do you or anybody else gree that Juan Laporta partly used Beckham to get the job?
Barcelona have gone downhill and Kluivert would be wise to leave whilst the ship is still above water cause the Catalan Club are sinking fast and Ruud Van Nistelrooy (RUUD!RUUD!What a guy) has already said that Patrick would be a great player for us.
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do you think Wenger will leave Arsenal?
Newspapers say that Del Bosque will leave this year, and the chosen one is Wenger, with who Madrid has already spoken.
I hope Real realise that if they sign Becks,then the commercial revenue will go through the roof!cause the name alone makes money!
You\'re right mate.
So Adan do you or anybody else gree that Juan Laporta partly used Beckham to get the job?
Absolutelly.
Barcelona have gone downhill and Kluivert would be wise to leave whilst the ship is still above water cause the Catalan Club are sinking fast and Ruud Van Nistelrooy (RUUD!RUUD!What a guy) has already said that Patrick would be a great player for us.
I think that Kluivert will go this year. His performance has been not fine and Barça need money...
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Adan and Rick,you both talk a good game...
I hate Juan Laporta for his cheap tactics and if Beckham joins Barcelona then I will vomit cause I\'ve always had it in for them cause they are selfish.
Del Bosque has done a good job but yeah it\'s time to move on.
Maybe Sir Alex Ferguson should do...
A lot of the papers in England have said that people would prefer that we kept Dvaid Beckham and got rid of Fergie instead.
Real have cleared their debts and know that in order to be the best you have to re-evaluate the squad at the end of the season and thats what they are doing with the attempt to sign David.
I wish you would just sign his wife and let us keep David cause she\'s not very popular cause we all know she is manipulative and greedy.
Personally I\'d love to see David Beckham stay at Man United but he will rot if he does and I feel very very upset to see they way the club I\'ve supported for nearly 19 years (I\'m 21 in august) have treated one of our best and most loyal players ever.
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Beckham can\'t stand there another season, and you know it, at least while Ferguson is there. But take it easy, because Barcelona never will get Beckham. They have not money to pay Manchester, neither to pay Beckham the amount he wants. Madrid will do. Furthermore, Beckham wants to play in Real if he has to leave Manchester...
Do u imagine Madrid buys both Beckham and Ferguson? XDDDD Hilarious.
It seems that Victoria is also in the pack, so you will also miss this bitch :laughing: She does manipulate Beckham and all the surrounders, that\'s clear.
I know how all you Man. supporters may feel with the going of Beckham, it somehow like if Raul will abandon Real... it would be a state matter indeed. But new good players will arrive, don\'t worry.
Meanwhile Real Madrid will be the greatest club in the world :p
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Originally posted by Adan
Meanwhile Real Madrid will be the greatest club in the world :p
what,like they were against Juventus in the semi final?:laughing:
we are apparently buying Kluivert,Makay,Southgate,Thuram,Robinson and Escude for next season.
I know we are in your shadow,but you haven\'t seen the best of us yet Adan and trust me mate,next time we meet in the Champions League,whether you have Beckham or not then you\'ll be drowning you sorrows on the plane back home after Kluivert and Van Nistelrooy do to you what the class act Ronaldo did to us at Old Trafford.
All this transfer speculation is giving me a headache!lol
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Hahaha, the Juventus match was a bad day... half of the team was injured... bad luck. Anyway, remember: pair years --> Champions League. No pair years --> National League.
What\'s this year? 2003. No pair. So National League, that will be won next Sunday ;)
You haven\'t neither see us in full action. Manchester matches were like a training :p Did you see yesterday match? Atletico 0 - 4 Real. An expectacle :p
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OK so you got me mate...good one :laughing:
but thats this season...
You haven\'t seen the best of Kluivert yet but just wait to see if he signs for us and hopefully Thuram (oh a Juventus player - Juventus,does that team sound familiar Adan?lol)
Good luck next weekend,I hope Athletico Madrid do you a favour and you get 3 points as well mate.
So in your ideal world,if you could have anybody join you who would you add to your already excellent squad?
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I would buy a good defence, like Samuel. Apart from any good refence, I don\'t see any interesting player to add the team... do you?
Thuram is a great player, if you get him, you\'ll be fascinated with his work and quality.
We won Atletico yesterday, next weekend we have to win at home against Ath. Bilbao. But if Sociedad looses... don\'t mind what we do... we\'ll be champions :)
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I\'ve always been a big fan of Sammy Kuffour for Bayern Munich.He seems to impress me often.
I\'ve always been a huge admirer of Thuram.
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Originally posted by FifaSeriesFan
I\'ve always been a big fan of Sammy Kuffour for Bayern Munich.He seems to impress me often.
I\'ve always been a huge admirer of Thuram.
don\'t get me started on Bayern Munich, if there\'s one team in the world I hate most, it\'s gotta be those f@cking bastards
*starts to vomit*
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:D what\'s the matter poli?
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The only team that I truly hate is Manchester United. urrggh.
Give me Bayern any day.
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i dont kknow why, ive readit somewhere, maybe ages ago, but i dont think thuram will go to man utd..... plus arent man utd after that french def, cant remeber his name...lol and what about hoffland???? dont they want him no more.
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Originally posted by Nedzad
The only team that I truly hate is Manchester United. urrggh.
Give that man a ceeee-gar, I like his way of thinkin
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Figo to Man Utd! According to todays Manchester Evening news, I wouldnt say no to that!
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Everything could happen Rick. But I don\'t think Figo goes without finishing his contract. On the other hand, Marca has been speaking with Manchester, and they said that Beckham will be white in between 7 and 10 days.
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Rick,the french defenders name was Julien Escude from Rennes.
Fergie is still interested in him but there\'s been no developments.
As for Hofland,he stayed loyal to PSV,Fergie lost patience and decided to sign Rio Ferdinand instead.
as for the image,you love winding us up don\'t you Adan? lol
Figo?he\'d cost us around 50 million cause Real would want to make a profit.
we\'ve been linked with a swap deal involving Makalele and £25 million for Beckham,but personally he\'s not a player who I can see adapting to English football and as a big fan of Primera,he doesn\'t impress me that much...give us Zidane or Raul instead!lol
we keep being linked with Andriy Shevchenko and Christian Vieri too.
Adan,Read these stories:From The Sun Newspaper -
Oh El! Barca\'s Becks fury
By NEIL CUSTIS
FURIOUS Barcelona fear they have been double-crossed by Manchester United.
They were shocked by SunSport\'s picture yesterday of top United and Real Madrid officials meeting for talks over David Beckham in Sardinia.
It blew United\'s hopes of conducting secret negotiations with Real over the England skipper behind Barca\'s back.
And Sandro Rosell, new Barca president Joan Laporta\'s right-hand man, gasped: "Oh no! If the story about this photograph is true, I will have to speak to the people at Manchester United and ask them what the situation is."
There is major embarrassment at both Old Trafford and Real\'s Bernabeu Stadium. And Barca will demand immediate answers from United chief executive Peter Kenyon, who led the talks with Real last Friday.
Laporta believed United would honour his contractual agreement with the club to buy Beckham in a deal worth up to £30million once he was voted in at the Nou Camp.
Now he is ready to consider reporting Real to FIFA if he can establish they approached Becks without permission from United.
Laporta rapped: "I don\'t think Madrid have stuck to FIFA rules.
"If I find out this is the case as far as David Beckham is concerned, we will have to take action."
Rosell added: "The contract for David Beckham was with us. If United have met with Real Madrid, I will have to talk to them."
Red-faced Kenyon was back at his desk yesterday after holidaying in the Mediterranean.
He stated only: "It would be inappropriate to comment on the matter at present."
SunSport revealed yesterday how Kenyon and United\'s managing director David Gill met with Pedro Lopez in Sardinia. Lopez is the \'fixer\' for Real president Florentino Perez.
Also present was Real\'s powerful marketing director Jose Angel Sanchez. He is responsible for the Spanish giant\'s determination to increase its profile in the Far East, where Beckham is worshipped.
United and manager Alex Ferguson are now just waiting for Real\'s official bid, likely after the Spanish season ends on Sunday. In Sardinia, they suggested £15m plus Luis Figo. United insisted they still want cash only.
But Barcelona will not give up on Beckham and have an £8million-a-SEASON package to put to him.
Rosell revealed: "My next step is to contact his agent, Tony Stephens, and then we will do whatever is necessary to get the player.
"I am 80 per cent certain he will come to Barcelona. I have not heard from his own mouth that he does not want to come here. When I do hear that then I will start to be worried."
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BARCELONA boss Raddy Antic insists confusion still reigns over whether David Beckham will join the Spanish club.
The Barca coach said he is still waiting for assurances about his own future.
Joan Laporta was voted club president on Sunday night after his popularity soared following his pledge to bring the England captain to the Nou Camp.
Antic said: "It is very difficult to say whether Beckham will come.
"It was a big promise by Laporta and nobody knows if that promise will come true."
Antic added he had not been involved in the bid for Beckham and hinted it may be unwise for Barca to concentrate all their transfer funds on one player.
He said: "It\'s a lot of money for one player, rather than buying a few players to improve the side."
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From DAVE KIDD in Madrid
REAL MADRID chief Jorge Valdano has cheekily denied SunSport\'s exclusive revelation that his club met with Manchester United to discuss David Beckham\'s transfer.
Valdano claimed that Real fixer Pedro Lopez\'s summit with Old Trafford directors Peter Kenyon and David Gill was just a chat about marketing opportunities.
Friday\'s three-hour meeting with Lopez, right-hand man of Real president Florentino Perez, ended with handshakes. As he arrived to give a lecture at Madrid\'s Palace Hotel last night director Valdano, with his tongue in his cheek, said: "Why would marketing men want to discuss David Beckham?"
Real told outrageous fibs when dismissing news of the signings of Zinedine Zidane and Ronaldo.
Yet asked if Becks would be on their Far East pre-season tour, Valdano said: "All I know is we at the club will be there."
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Just do a straight swap for Steve McManaman LOL :D
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Hahha good reads fifa. This is the same situation that happened with Ronaldo and Zizou. If all is alright, Beckham will be white, i\'m sure.
Barça asking Manchester why they\'re talking with Madrid? :laughing::laughing::laughing: Hilarious. It\'s beckham who wanna play in Madrid, he stated that he wouldn\'t play in Barcelona, because "he wants to play the champions and win the league", things that won\'t do in Barcelona.
Makelele? He\'s a great player dude, he\'s not a real technic spectacle, but his works is indeed ultra-necessary in the mid-field. If we miss Makelele, that will be a great miss.
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Originally posted by Adan
Hahha good reads fifa.
Thanks.:D
Originally posted by Adan Makelele? He\'s a great player dude, he\'s not a real technic spectacle, but his works is indeed ultra-necessary in the mid-field. If we miss Makelele, that will be a great miss.
Don\'t get me wrong,he\'s a great player,it\'s just when I see him play,he just has a big workrate and is very inconsistent.
Aparently we want him because he is seen by Sir Alex Ferguson as the replacement for Roy Keane who seems irreplaceable.
oh yeah,I forgot to tell you mate...it\'s not Real Madrid will have to start calling him by his real name...David Beckham "OBE" :P
Here are a better pics,which I think will always and SHOULD suit David:
(https://psx5central.com/community/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.forbes.com%2Fimages%2F2002%2F09%2F30%2Fmanu.jpg&hash=d063b981820719088db3a212e61a18be408a8ada) (https://psx5central.com/community/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.muscsb.no%2Fdata%2Fimages%2Fstock%2F2002-2003%2Fbeckham-01.jpg&hash=28a8f256c5413345992e89dcf24d6f6d923eb4dc)
(https://psx5central.com/community/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Feur.news1.yimg.com%2Feur.yimg.com%2Fxp%2Fempics%2F20021102%2F19%2F3096769523.jpg&hash=f819a7f43bac150b308a7dc5a8c549b615ff0b80) (https://psx5central.com/community/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fsg.yimg.com%2Fxp%2Freuters%2F20021104%2F806256696.jpg&hash=38d6bc92276e4ccca9110d2b61cb0f8db3fb2961)
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Adan,Read this mate...
link:
http://msn.skysports.com/skysports/article/0,,1-1094323,00.html
REAL LURK AROUND RONI AS REDS DEAL WITH BECKS
Manchester United\'s quest to sign Paris St Germain ace Ronaldinho has taken a knock after the Brazilian talked candidly about the attraction of joining his \'friends\' at Real Madrid.
United appeared to have World Cup winner Ronaldinho in the bag, with a £10million deal apparently agreed with his club, Paris St Germain, and the player\'s agents happy, too.
But David Beckham\'s exit from Old Trafford is threatening to blow up in United\'s face, and all resources are deployed trying to speed up the England skipper\'s departure.
Chief Executive Peter Kenyon, the main mover and shaker at the club, David Gilll and Ken Ramsden are currently negotiating with Spanish giants Barcelona and Real Madrid.
And it is no surprise that they are struggling to find the time to sort out Ronaldinho.
Seemingly happy with the prospect of joining the Premiership champions two weeks ago, there has been little progress in the 23-year-old\'s move and Real have made their interest known.
And though it is suspected that Real want to use him as a pawn in the Beckham saga, the Brazilian was nonetheless happy to consider the prospect of playing at the Bernabeu.
He told Spanish newspaper Marca: "All I can say is that right now I am working hard to play for one of Europe\'s big clubs, and Spain would be very attractive for me.
"There are a lot of teams I like watching, but above all I like the teams where my friends play. I admire Ronaldo and Zidane and I enjoy watching them."
Real already have Ronaldinho\'s countrymen Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos and Flavio Conceicao in their star-studded squad, as well as one of his favourite players, Zinedine Zidane.
And despite competition from these, as well as the likes of Raul, Luis Figo and possibly even Beckham for his place, the former Gremio star believes his versatility would be an invaluable asset to any squad.
He added: "I have been able to adapt positions. I have no problems playing in one position or another.
"I have already played on the right, on the left, as a striker or in a deeper role, so there\'s no problem. The most important thing is to play and enjoy
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Originally posted by FifaSeriesFan
oh yeah,I forgot to tell you mate...it\'s not Real Madrid will have to start calling him by his real name...David Beckham "OBE" :P
I didn\'t understand that, sorry mate.
I like more this pic:
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Originally posted by FifaSeriesFan
Adan,Read this mate...
link:
http://msn.skysports.com/skysports/article/0,,1-1094323,00.html
Everybody wanna play in Real Madrid, that\'s normal. This is becoming the "world team"...
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don\'t overestimate them!
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Originally posted by politiepet
don\'t overestimate them!
We shouldn\'t overestimate who or what? Real Madrid? It\'s not overestimated. They have that quality. All you have to do is read the names of the team, the history, the trophies and the fama all around the world.
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yea, they have said its part of there plan, get a world class player from each country, to make there world wide presence even greater
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That\'s marketing strategies, but very well thought. They buy the best players of each area... and apart from quality, they also bring us money.
Months ago, they were speaking about buying a japanese player to have an important presence there.
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you got lucky against us because if you remember we beat you 4-3 at Old Trafford AND were the better side because Real Madrid got arrogant and it seems to me that they couldn\'t handle out fighting spirit.
I respect Real Madrid but they don\'t want to get too cocky otherwise,Juventus will beat you again :laughing:
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yea, a few season ago they was talking about micheal owen, but then signed a new contract
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Hahaha... you think? Remember that next season, we\'ll get the Champions League.. it\'s pair year! :D
Florentino is making a good team, it\'s not easy to beat Madrid... Someone said that playing against Madrid you can\'t win, it\'s Madrid who looses.
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Originally posted by Adan
Hahaha... you think? Remember that next season, we\'ll get the Champions League.. it\'s pair year! :D
Florentino is making a good team, it\'s not easy to beat Madrid... Someone said that playing against Madrid you can\'t win, it\'s Madrid who looses.
is that so?because if you remember we beat you 4-3 at Old Trafford AND were the better side because Real Madrid got arrogant and it seems to me that they couldn\'t handle out fighting spirit.
I respect Real Madrid but they don\'t want to get too cocky otherwise,Juventus will beat you again
:laughing:
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do you remember this Adan mate?:laughing:
Manchester Utd 4-3 Real Madrid
Van Nistelrooy 42 Ronaldo 12, 50, 59
Helguera (og) 52
Beckham 71, 84
It was the final everyone apparently wanted and a match worthy of any showpiece occasion, an enthralling end-to-end match characterised by outstanding, attacking football. It would, under any other circumstances, go down as a famous win for Manchester United.
That, though, will be of little consolation to Sir Alex Ferguson and Manchester United as Real Madrid once again ended their Champions League dreams; 1999 is an increasingly distant memory.
Since that night in Barcelona, four years have brought United consistent qualification in the group stages but elimination thereafter, defeats to German opposition bookended by exhibitions of Real class at Old Trafford.
Imperious, even regal at times, Real ditched none of their tricks and scarcely appeared concerned about protecting their 3-1 first leg lead; nonetheless, they were reliant on a string of superb saves from Iker Casillas as United went down attacking.
So Old Trafford will surely be graced again this season by Real; though UEFA appear to write scripts for Manchester United by scheduling Champions League finals in places of such significance to Sir Alex Ferguson as Glasgow and Manchester, Real usurp them.
And Ronaldo, written off in some quarters at Real just weeks ago as he was as a footballer 12 months ago, completed his second comeback in a year. The World Cup winner scored a superb hat-trick to decide the tie if not the game; in a contest of £30 million players, Rio Ferdinand came off distinctly second best.
After a virtuoso strike to complete a trio within an hour, Ronaldo departed to a standing ovation, having shared the stage for just four minutes with perhaps the next in Real\'s galaxy of stars, David Beckham.
Beckham\'s presence on the bench for 63 minutes of United\'s biggest game of the season was as subtle as a Glaswegian kiss from Ferguson; a futile cameo when they needed four goals to win is unlikely to have impressed the England captain.
Nonetheless, a free kick to rank with any in his stellar connection and a close range tap-in may have proved a point - in Madrid if not Manchester. Roy Keane, anonymous and off the pace, was a more deserving candidate for the axe.
Juan Sebastian Veron, recalled in midfield, had a stage to suit his talents and was more influential on his first appearance for seven weeks; however, a Real midfield with Steve McManaman and Guti playing important, if understated roles, were not out-fought.
Predictions that Real\'s defending could prove their undoing had some substance; United\'s, though, was similarly suspect, even if Real\'s sumptuous skills were a mitigating factor for a young back four. John O\'Shea, who nutmegged Luis Figo, at least had something else to show for his evening.
Early optimism, increased by a ferocious Ruud Van Nistelrooy shot, was soon quashed by a trademark strike from Ronaldo as he peeled off his marker, Ferdinand, to meet Guti\'s pass and finish with a first-time strike. But, as with Real\'s opener in the Bernabeu, Fabien Barthez\'s positioning was suspect.
Figo, his tormentor in the first leg, twice almost embarrassed Barthez again, one miscue requring the keeper to back-pedal furiously and a curling cross glancing off the post, pre-empted by a classic Cruyff turn.
Time for United to stand up and be counted: initially, only the excellent Van Nistelrooy and the fearless O\'Shea, did, the latter providing an example for Ryan Giggs as he ran at Michel Salgado with exuberance and enthusiasm.
But Giggs and the opposite winger, Solskjaer, were more prominent as United adopted a shoot-on-sight policy, the Welshman firing just past the post from 20 yards and the Norwegian drawing a fine parry from Iker Casillas.
And they combined for the equaliser, Giggs coming infield to slide a pass to Solskajer who, unselfishly, set up Van Nistelrooy for a tap-in.
Easy finish though it was, such was Van Nistelrooy\'s display that comparisons with Ronaldo did not flatter him.
Only Casillas denied him a second goal in four minutes after a Solskjaer shot had been parried; only the post denied him a second goal of the game later, a long-range thunderbolt fractionally askew.
Zidane\'s slide-rule pass and Roberto Carlos\' unselfish cross gave Ronaldo his second goal but driven on by Van Nistelrooy\'s unquenchable desire, United were level within a minute. The Dutchman found Juan Sebastian Veron and aimed to meet the Argentinian\'s cross-shot when Ivan Helguera provided the finish instead, with a backheel; this is, after all, Real Madrid.
It was frantic and fantastic, Casillas making invaluable saves from a Solskjaer shot and Veron volley\'s volley before Ronaldo took aim to complete a memorable trio.
Enter Beckham to belatedly make his case; the quality of his free kick matched by the desire to reach Hierro\'s poor touch to spare a second Real defender an own goal and double his tally, even if Van Nistelrooy, for a solo run and shimmy, deserved the credit more than either.
And even in defeat, to Real the plaudits for their laudable refusal to change their gameplan for even the toughest away games; that Figo was replaced by a defender in United\'s frantic finish was a moral victory, but they still fell two goals short of an aggregate triumph.
All this and the man Sir Alex Ferguson rates the best footballer in the world - Raul - did not even play. Ronaldo\'s advocates may disagree, but though it was not a night on which Ferguson\'s judgement was vindicated, that is testament to the supremacy of Real Madrid.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Ronaldo (Real Madrid) - Alex Ferguson felt he occupied three Manchester United defenders at the Bernabeu; he added three goals for more tangible evidence of his impact in the second leg.
Man Utd: Barthez, O\'Shea, Ferdinand, Brown, Silvestre (Phil Neville 79), Veron (Beckham 63), Butt, Keane (Fortune 82), van Nistelrooy, Giggs, Solskjaer.
Subs Not Used: Ricardo, Blanc, Forlan, Fletcher.
Booked: Veron, Fortune.
Real Madrid: Casillas, Salgado, Hierro, Helguera, Carlos, Zidane, McManaman (Portillo 69), Figo (Pavon 88), Makelele, Ronaldo (Solari 67), Guti.
Subs Not Used: Cesar, Morientes, Flavio, Cambiasso.
Booked: Figo.
Att: 66,708
Ref: Pierluigi Collina (Italy).
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Hehehe... good night that... both for Real and for Manchester audience that enjoyed a great match.
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It was a good night for both fans but I think I enjoyed it cause we beat the "MIGHTY" Real Madrid. :laughing:
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HAHAHAHA guys, REAL MADRID HAS JUST CONFIRMED THAT BECKHAM WILL PLAY NEXT SEASON, PLUS OTHER 3, IN REAL MADRID. He will be presented on 2nd July. The deal was signed this afternoon. Price €25 million plus €10 million if Madrid wins next year the national league or Champions league. Strange deal, but true. TVs, radio, internet... all media confirm that Beckham is already a white player ;)
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pfff...you can have him, IMO england\'s players are overestimated ;)
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pfff...you can have him, IMO england\'s players are overestimated ;)
j/k! :D
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wow he has gone, i really hope he becomes a even greater player, i always thought beckham was way opverrated, but the last few years he has really impressed me a lot.
and just read the write up of the real v man utd game, and what has happend to rio???? he has not been as good as he usually has this season, he has had good games, but not all the time, and man utd want makelea or how ever his name is spelled, to take over, as as sad as it iss, keane isnt gonna last as long as they would like