Blame Blatter, Not C-Ron
By: Daryl | July 13th, 2008
Now we’ve all had time to recover from Sepp Blatter comparing Cristiano Ronaldo’s five six figure contract at Man Utd to modern day slavery, it’s probably time we put the whole thing in perspective.
Blatter has rightly been laughed at/criticized/committed to a mental institution for his ridiculous comparison. Bottom line for me is that he’s an attention grabbing old so-and-so who knows exactly what he’s doing, which makes the comment all the worse. But the one guy I have some sympathy for here is - bizarrely - C-Ron himself.
When the wantaway winger was confronted with Blatter’s comments, he was stupid enough to agree with them. Here’s what he told TVI, the Portuguese news station:
“I agree with the statements of the president. What he said is correct. You know what I said, what I want and what I would like. Now I have to wait and see what happens.”
Not a smart move by CR7, but I can understand why he said it. He basically has to agree with Blatter to keep up the pressure on Man U to let him leave. A wiser man would have said something like “comparing my situation to slavery is a bit extreme, but yes, I’m being held against my will.”
Unfortunately C-Ron isn’t a wiser man.
And though he said what he said, it’s extremely harsh for him to be lumped alongside Blatter as believing footballers are modern day slaves. He’s going to be forever associated with that sentiment now, even though it originated not with him, but in the meddling mind of the FIFA president.
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Category: World Football
Tags: Cristiano Ronaldo, English Premier League, FIFA, Man Utd, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Sepp Blatter, slavery, World FootballSubscribe
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Comments | Add your comment
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I agree, Daryl, especially because Ronaldo’s statement of agreement was so vague, but somehow got transformed into the hyper-specific headline “RONALDO: I AM A SLAVE” by about 300 blogs and newspapers.
On the other hand, that “five-figure contract” is only five figures if you’re counting his wages per day.
Posted from
United States
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You’re right Brian, it’s six figures a week of course. It’s been corrected.
Though I’m not Ronaldo’s biggest fan, I think this whole episode demonstrates that what he really needs is a good PR officer.
Saw “Hancock” last night. Not a great movie, but got me thinking that C-Ron should hire Jason Bateman’s PR character to help cast him in a more positive light.
Posted from
United Kingdom -
Agree with you. Me too not a Cron fan but now feel sorry for him. Blatter is a rascal.
Posted from
India -
I don’t think he had to agree with the statement at all, to be honest. There are a million other things he could have said, or he could have done exactly what he’s been doing since the Euros and refused to comment. Despite the fact that he has the tact and common sense that God gave a two year old goat, he’s still a grown man and should still be held accountable for the words that come out of his own mouth and the associations he chooses to create of his own free will.
And let’s be honest, he doesn’t care what anyone thinks of him anyway.
Posted from
Canada -
To be honest I don’t see why he would want to leave.
He’s been incredibly successful and ManU are one of the best clubs in the world, winning the Prem and the CL last season. I don’t see why you would want to leave such a great team where you fit in so well, but hey, whatever.Posted from
United States -
Where does one sign up to be a slave? WAG’s here I come!
Posted from
United States -
Saying he is being held against his will would be just as bad as far as I’m concerned. C-Ron signed a contract. If he doesn’t have the balls to live up to his commitments, he isn’t much of a man.
Posted from
United States -
He want to leave because he can. He thinks that since he had a good season and got player of the year he is allowed to do anything. Idiot
Posted from
United States -
Its understandable the management and followers’ fury but the kid is pursuing his dreams, its the perfect moment to move on since his market price is bound to drop next season since its almost impossible to keep up this season’s numbers.
At this age, the player should have the last say and be free to decide and changes as long as the club is fairly compensated. All this saga is a simple demonstration of Ferguson’s arrogance, it all started when Schuster commentated “modern day slavery should be abolished” to which Ferguson in a cheap smirk grin replied “Give me a break, did anyone ever tell Franco that?” Speaking about education and class, here we are criticizing Ronaldo for appreciating Blatters words while Ferguson’s classless lowblow comment passed by, i guess everyone takes it as one of Ferguson’s idiosyncratic behaviors….
The saga has turned into a dispute among public figures siding on man u or ronaldo’s pretentions. R Madrid haven’t done a thing but say they’d be ready to hand out a sum around 80 to 100 million in the case the red devils WANT TO SELL. Its all between the club and C Ronaldo, its in everyone’s interest to let him go, take the cash and sign other world talents…..C R wouldnt be any good if he’s kept against his will.
Posted from
United States -
are u RM fan by any chance…???
as I see it…schuster’s comment was a dig on Utd..close to saying that they are practising slavery on a player who signed a 5 year contract just months ago…I think Fergie was ok in saying that…it was wrong but that’s how RM needs to be treated if they show lack of respect to everyone else..
and are you blind..ever read the Spanish newspapers??? or may i say the newspapers out of Bernabeau…after putting so much pressure on the team and the player its easy to say …”oh sorry I will only buy if you want to sell!”
Posted from
United States -
I dont feel sorry for Ronaldo at all. He’s brought this on himself by make it public that he wants to leave Manchester Utd, even though he is still under contract. If he didnt want to stay then maybe he should have signed a shorter contract.
Posted from
United States -
Can’t say I feel sorry for C-Ron either. Like several people have said, there were an infinite number of other things he could have said, rather than to blatantly agree. No tact.
When does ManU’s pre-season training start? Oughta full of all sorts of awkwardness. Oh yeah.
Posted from
United States -
Hana, it has already started. And they play a friendly against Aberdeen yesterday (United won 2-0). It was actually in commeration of Aberdeen’s Cup Winners’ Cup triumph to Real Madrid 25 years ago. Sir Alex Ferguson was formely the coach of Aberdeen.
‘Can’t say I feel sorry for C-Ron either.’
Me too.Posted from
Singapore -
The Utd. preseason has already started ..they beat Aberdeen yesterday by 2-0 .. Ronaldo is out for 11 more weeks …strange the injury normally takes 5-6 weeks to heal…I’ve read somewhere that fergie has cancelled a meeting with Ronnie since he is pissed off at the Slavery comments…haha
Posted from
United States -
honestly, my only reaction to this whole story is: ´is there anyone on the planet more irritating than sepp blatter?´
Posted from
Argentina -
well mat, i read spanish newspapers, ive worked in ‘em as well buts whats important and at stake is that its an official statement, nothing else and no evidence to sue any entity.
The way i see it, the franco statement compromises a general apathetic feeling from all spaniards, not only RN fans. This could go on with a colonial discussion both UK and Spain share the infamous “the sun never set in its reign” but Ferguson isn’t a brit so i guess its off ; ) what a sell out
Posted from
Spain -
He should just be thankful there was never any reserve clause in effect.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reserve_clausePosted from
United States -
He should just be thankful there was never any reserve clause in effect. I can’t link to it, but go look it up–players were not allowed to enter into a contract with another team, even after their old contract had expired.
Posted from
United States -
This whole C-Ron to Madrid saga is really quite boring. The scenario is about as old as the Bosman rule. We can argue all day about who the real douches are: Real for floating their interest in the player to the media, Ronaldo and his agent(s) for wanting to leave after signing a contract last year, or United for not accommodating their player’s wishes. But lets get one thing straight: Ronaldo’s desire to move is 100% financially motivated. It has nothing to do with football or “following your dreams”.
It is unlikely C-Ron will ever find himself in a footballing environment as ideal for him as United is right now. If he was concerned with winning trophies and playing to his full potential he’d be crazy to even consider leaving. But Ronaldo opened the paper and saw the 100m figure, his agent pointed out that they’d get to pocket 10m if the rumor became reality, and the next day Real is his “dream club”.
Should he be vilified for this? I personally like my job and my boss, but I’d drop a deuce on top of my boss’s desk while he was sitting there for way less than 10m. As far as Ronaldo is concerned, I admire his game, and the next time he laces ‘em up I’d make an effort to watch. But everything in between now and then is just posturing for money, and it is boring.
Posted from
United States
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