Quotes about Raul Gonzalez

• Jesús Gil (29/10/99): "Raúl is my bete noire".
• Fabio Capello (15/11/99): "He is a winner. He is the inheritance of Real Madrid".
• Javier Clemente (01/04/00): "Raúl is the best forward in the world".
• Franz Beckenbauer (09/05/00): "Raúl is one of the best of Europe. He is Real Madrid's spirit. He is like Matthäus for us: indispensable, and with a bad haircut".
• Thierry Henry (25/06/00): "When he plays, in his mind there is only the goal; it's the football essence. Every time they do something, you stand up over your seat".
• Sir Alex Ferguson (08/04/03): "I hope he doesn't like travelling, Failing that we will stop him entering the country. Real buy these big players like Figo, Zidane and Ronaldo but I think the best player in the world is Raúl".
• Zinedine Zidane (12/02/04): "For me I would say my favourite players in Europe are Raúl and Figo."
• Ottmar Hitzfeld (16/02/07) - Days before the Bayern vs. Madrid Match: "I’d sign him right here and now, and I’d go wherever it takes to land a player like that, he’s a "Crack" (a "match changing" player) player and I’m a fan of everything that he does, and what’s more now is the prefect time to sign him as he’s got a wealth of experience and has reached full maturity"
• David Trézéguet (08/05/03): "We all know what Raúl represents, not only for his team, but also for football".^{[citation needed]}
• Luís Figo (11/06/05): "I think he is the greatest player to have ever played the game. He walks on the turf and astounds. It is utterly amazing.
• David Beckham in his last appearance at Real Madrid City's press room (14/06/07): "I want to wish the captain good luck because he has been a tower of strength for many people and for the team, and he’s been a person that a lot of people should look up to because he is very dedicated to what he does and what he believes in. Thank you to him and the rest of the team, and good luck throughout the rest of their careers".
• Fernando Hierro (27/9/2007):"I once said that Raúl is like a Ferrari and now I think he is like a McLaren, Fernando Alonso's car."

Ronaldo's Quotes and Quotes about Ronaldo

Sourced

• I don't play football just because I like it. I play because I've got an ambition to always win and be the best - to win every trophy and competition I'm part of.
  I'll be happy when I win the Champions League, the World Cup and the European Championship. That is every footballer's ambition.
  To finish my career and be able to say I did a good job overall, and say I was handsomely rewarded for it. That's it.
  • As quoted in "Ronaldo eyes trophy boost" in Manchester Online (22 April 2006)

• We have a good chance - we are at the top of the league, Arsenal and ourselves. But I don't think it is just between the two teams. Chelsea and Liverpool are still there and are strong.
  • As quoted in "Still a four-way fight" by Gemma Thompson at the official Manchester United website (20 December 2007)

Unsourced

• I'm living a dream I never want to wake up from.

• Lots of young players have triumphed at United, so why can't it happen to me? I'm not worried I'm young - it's an incentive to do the best I can.

• Now we're in the final we must win, and can't think the job is over. We'll give everything and we're convinced we can do it.

• The No 7 shirt is an honour and a responsibility. I hope it brings me a lot of success.

• I went over to our fans after the Charlton game to let them know that they have a special place inside of me. I wanted to thank them in a special way for all the support they have given me, particularly in this game here, and to tell them I am Manchester United through and through - in my heart and soul.

• It gives me the happiest feeling in the world. I just love scoring. It doesn't matter if it's a simple goal from close range, a long shot or a dribble around several players, I just love to score all goals.

• England were eliminated by Portugal, a situation they did not like at all, and I was involved in it. They had chosen me to be the star of a movie with a totally false plot.

• My free-kick secret? I just look at the net and say 'take the kick, Cristiano.'

• "I've never tried to hide the fact that it is my intention to be the best"

• "If I didn't become a footballplayer, i would become superman"

Quotes about Ronaldo

• He's a prat of a player and a prat of a person, and he will always do the little teams but when it comes to the big games he will cost them like he cost them the match against Arsenal last week, no I don't like him, I love him!
  • Eamon Dunphy on Ronaldo

• We’ve had some great players at this club in my 20 years, but he’s up with the best.
  • Sir Alex Ferguson compliments Ronaldo, as quoted in "Ronaldo has last laugh as penalty puts United into semi-finals" in The TImes (20 March 2007)]

• When you've got a player who does what he does at that pace this late in the game than you know you've got an invaluable talent
  • Andy Gray

• I'm running out of words to describe this lad
  • Andy Gray

• He's six-foot two, brave as a lion, strong as an ox and quick as lightning. If he was good looking, you'd say he has everything.
  • - Paul Jewell "Premier League quotes of the season" BBC SPORTS (12 may 2008)

• The kid makes you sick. He looks the part, he walks the part, he is the part. He's six-foot something, fit as a flea, good-looking - he's got to have something wrong with him....Hopefully he's hung like a hamster! That would make us all feel better!
  • - Ian Holloway "Holloway column" , BBC SPORTS(4 april 2008)

• There have been a few players described as the new George Best over the years, but this is the first time it's been a compliment to me."
  • George Best, as quoted in "Funniest ever footie quotes" in The Sun

• When Ronaldo gets the ball, you can just leave him to it while he beats player after player!
  • Ryan Giggs

• For me, he is an exceptional player.
  • Cesc Fabregas on Ronaldo, as quoted in BBC News

• I have never played against anybody like that in my life - I was pleased to be taken off.
  • Millwall's Robbie Ryan, who played Ronaldo in the FA Cup final of 2004

• He's a gift from heaven, he is truly a gift from heaven. Whatever he touches turns to gold.
  • Commentator Alan Parry after Ronaldo's brilliant free-kick against Portsmouth

• Ronaldo is better than George Best and Denis Law, who were two brilliant and great players in the history of United.
  • Johan Cruyff, as quoted in

Cristiano Ronaldo:I moved to Real Madrid to be the World's greatest

Ronaldo held his first interview since his transfer with reporter Andy Dunn of the British tabloid news of the World.

In his interview, Ronaldo told the newspaper that after Manchester United beat Chelsea on penalties in the 2008 Champions League final, he felt that he accomplished everything that he could and only stayed for the 2008-2009 season to win a third consecutive Premier League title before he would move onto the Bernabeu to play for Real Madrid.

Ronaldo also said that he joined Real Madrid to become a greater player and he denied that he joined to earn more money.

He also denied that their wasn't any secret pact that former Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon claimed he had sealed six months ago. Meanwhile, Ronaldo claimed that everything was finished in the last several weeks.

Ronaldo also told the paper that he made this move to ensure that he would become the greatest footballer in the world, and he also wished that he didn't open his mouth at all over the transfer during the last year.

Ronaldo also told the paper that Wayne Rooney could potentially become a better player than he could and he also acknowledged that his behavior during the 2006 World Cup match between England and Portugal was unacceptable. He also apologized for the wink that he did after Rooney got sent off during that game.

However, he said that he doesn't regret it because he claims that it made him into a better person and he would never act in that way again in those circumstances.

He also claimed that he had a really close, "father-son" relationship with manager Sir Alex Ferguson, and that was a and he wished that Ferguson could become "his life coach".

Finally, he claimed that the Old Trafford supporters were great to him and he really appreciated how they always stood up for him.

Real Madrid 2009/2010 Kit

Real Madrid deny Ibrahimovic speculations

Real Madrid have called themselves out of the race for Inter forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who had been linked to the club in recent days.

This was declared by the Merengues sporting director, Jorge Valdano, who also denied that his club were interested in Atletico Madrid striker Diego Forlan.

However, Valdano admitted that there are still two or three attackers which Real Madrid are following and who they will try to sign up in the coming weeks.

"We have been linked to Forlan and Ibrahimovic, but neither player will arrive," explained the director to Radio Marca.

"We are still searching for an attacker, we have two or three alternatives, but none of them are the Inter or Atletico Madrid player."

This means that the chances of Ibrhaimovic leaving are now diminishing, with Chelsea and Barcelona the only known suitors remaining.

Recently, Real Madrid have been linked to Juventus striker David Trezeguet, who could therefore be one of their objectives in attack.