Cristiano Ronaldo - a Modern Day Football Slave
FIFA President Blatter Supports Player over Club in Transfer Row
Sepp Blatter, the President of FIFA, has spoken out in the continuing summer speculation about Cristiano Ronaldo. Real Madrid have expressed an interest in signing him, much to the annoyance of Manchester United and their manager, Sir Alex Ferguson who have no wish to sell the player who was a vital member of their team which retained the Premier League title and won the Champions League Final. Ronaldo himself has indicated that he would like to play for Real Madrid but he signed a five year contract with the Old Trafford club last summer, reputed to be worth £120,000 per week.
Double Footballer of the Year
Ronaldo has been double Player of the Year in England for the past two seasons and his goal scoring from midfield has been essential for United’s success at home and in Europe.
Blatter - 'Modern day Slaves'
Blatter’s comments that players were being treated like modern day slaves has added intensity to the debate and Ronaldo has further infuriated his club by agreeing with Blatter’s comments. The speculation about Ronaldo’s future has been rife since the end of the season and the player didn’t do anything to play it down during the European Championships in Switzerland and Austria.
A complication to ending the rumours is that Ronaldo has recently undergone surgery for an ankle injury which will keep him out of football for the first three months of the season.
Futher Speculation and Rumour
With much transfer activity during the summer months many clubs and players are awaiting the outcome of this stand-off between Real Madrid and Manchester United over Ronaldo. If Real were to sign the player, it would have a knock-on affect throughout the football world, with United looking to sign a suitable replacement with Huntelaar of Ajax and Dimitar Berbatov of Tottenham Hotspur among those who are interesting the club. Many tentative deals and discussions will have taken place so that replacements can be signed should the first deal go through, as no club wants to start the season without a star striker.
There are a number of high profile players in England who are looking to move this summer. Frank Lampard wants to join his former manager Jose Mourinho at Inter Milan but Chelsea do not want to sell him while striker Didier Drogba is also wanting away from the Stamford Bridge club.
Liverpool's Transfer Targets
Liverpool have been embroiled in a summer long struggle with Aston Villa over the England midfield player, Gareth Barry. The player has spoken out stating that he wants to join Liverpool but the Anfield club have yet to meet Villa’s fee for the player. Rafa Benitez has added further spice to the transfer period by indicating that he would also like to sign the Tottenham Hotspur and Republic of Ireland striker, Robbie Keane. Spurs do not want to sell Keane, their vice-captain, who last season joined the club’s elite group of players to have scored over one hundred goals in his six years at White Hart Lane. However, Keane has shown a willingness to move to Liverpool, the club he supported as a boy. Liverpool have yet to meet Spurs’ valuation for the player and may have to sell some players to raise the funds for their transfer activities.
Future of Transfer Contracts
Blatter’s comments accusing clubs of using players like slaves by refusing them regular transfers brings into question the validity of any contract that a player would sign in the future.
With Blatter commenting on the transfer activities of clubs, speaking in support of players, he is further increasing the power of the player and his agent and making it more difficult for clubs to plan long term – as every player would be in apposition to tear up their contract at any time should another club express an interest in signing him, ensuring that the power in football continues to move with the players.
