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Man U pitting hopes on football`s most expensive teenager
Manchester, Aug 14: Manchester United are hoping new number seven Ronaldo enjoys long reign as Brazilian World Cup winner Kleberson is also unveilled.
Manchester, Aug 14: Manchester United are hoping new number seven Ronaldo enjoys long reign as Brazilian World Cup winner Kleberson is also unveilled.
Manchester United's new teenage striker Cristiano Ronaldo has been handed the club's fabled number seven shirt because of his youth as manager Alex Ferguson plots another era of success at Old Trafford.
United also presented Brazilian international Kleberson Jose Pereira following the completion of the midfielder's six million pounds ($ 9.6 million US dollars) move from Atletico Paranaense.
Ronaldo, 18, takes over the number formerly worn by George Best and most recently David Beckham after the youngster's 12.24 million pounds ($19.65 million US dollars) signing from Sporting Lisbon made him British football's most expensive teenage signing.
At a news conference on Wednesday (August 13) to unveil United's latest signings, Ferguson said youth was one of the reasons why the Portuguese was handed the famous number seven shirt.
"There is enormous talent there and he wants to play. You saw last Wednesday (3-1 friendly defeat to Sporting) he wanted the ball all the time. He was enjoying there. So, he is not phased by anything, temperament excellent," said the manager.
Ronaldo, who will bring versatility to United's attack, has been described by Ferguson as one of the most exciting players he has ever seen.
"I feel a great honour and is also a great responsibility. And I expect to correspond to all they have achieved so far. I hope everything goes all right and that people will start to admire me," Ronaldo told reporters.
The teenager's admission that Arsenal striker Thierry Henry is one of his heroes did not spark quite such a positive response from his new manager.
But Ronaldo left no-one in any doubt that he would rather be at Old Trafford than Highbury, or any of the other major European clubs who courted him.
"In my consideration, they (Manchester United) are the greatest club in the world and for that reason I picked them," said Ronaldo, who is ready to wear the tag of costliest teenager.
Ferguson does not expect to add to his squad before the closing of the transfer window at the end of August. But he believes his latest signings, who arrived following the departure of Beckham and Juan Sebastian Veron, will enhance United's chances of retaining the premier league title and give them a better chance of winning the Champions League.
He expected the 24 year-old Kleberson would be as important for United as he was at helping Brazil to win a record fifth Word Cup title in 2002.
"His position in the Brazilian national team was vital to the way they played. As you know, they are so fluid in their play but they needed someone to stabilise the team and I think he was the stablizier," Ferguson said.
The Scotsman joked when asked how the newcomers would do to learn English after coming both from Portuguese speaking countries.
"The thing about young people is that they learn quickly and they have themselves to talk to,” Ferguson said.
Bureau Report
"There is enormous talent there and he wants to play. You saw last Wednesday (3-1 friendly defeat to Sporting) he wanted the ball all the time. He was enjoying there. So, he is not phased by anything, temperament excellent," said the manager.
Ronaldo, who will bring versatility to United's attack, has been described by Ferguson as one of the most exciting players he has ever seen.
"I feel a great honour and is also a great responsibility. And I expect to correspond to all they have achieved so far. I hope everything goes all right and that people will start to admire me," Ronaldo told reporters.
The teenager's admission that Arsenal striker Thierry Henry is one of his heroes did not spark quite such a positive response from his new manager.
But Ronaldo left no-one in any doubt that he would rather be at Old Trafford than Highbury, or any of the other major European clubs who courted him.
"In my consideration, they (Manchester United) are the greatest club in the world and for that reason I picked them," said Ronaldo, who is ready to wear the tag of costliest teenager.
Ferguson does not expect to add to his squad before the closing of the transfer window at the end of August. But he believes his latest signings, who arrived following the departure of Beckham and Juan Sebastian Veron, will enhance United's chances of retaining the premier league title and give them a better chance of winning the Champions League.
He expected the 24 year-old Kleberson would be as important for United as he was at helping Brazil to win a record fifth Word Cup title in 2002.
"His position in the Brazilian national team was vital to the way they played. As you know, they are so fluid in their play but they needed someone to stabilise the team and I think he was the stablizier," Ferguson said.
The Scotsman joked when asked how the newcomers would do to learn English after coming both from Portuguese speaking countries.
"The thing about young people is that they learn quickly and they have themselves to talk to,” Ferguson said.
Bureau Report