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United claim Ronaldinho bottled out of move to Manchester
London, July 21: Manchester United have accused Brazil World Cup star Ronaldinho of not having the nerve to play in the English premiership.
London, July 21: Manchester United have accused Brazil World Cup star Ronaldinho of not having the nerve to play in the English premiership.
United chased Ronaldinho for nearly a year but the Brazilian finally left Paris St Germain in a 30-million-Euro (33.6-million-dollar) move to Barcelona over the weekend.
Ronaldinho was the second player in a month to turn down a move to Old Trafford, after Australian Harry Kewell's decision to join Liverpool.
United chief executive Peter Kenyon questioned whether either player had the nerve to take up the task of playing for United. "You have got to be a special player to play for Manchester United," he told the British press from the United States where United are on tour.
"We offer a major stage, champions league opportunities, a huge success factor in terms of picking up medals and financial guarantees.
"The regime is strict but it produces what most players want - a winning formula. Mentally you have to be tough enough to stand it.
"Players have to balance that against what is on offer at other places. You have to ask the question why they want to go somewhere else and you can take that how you want." United manager Sir Alex Ferguson said the Brazilian's snub would not affect the club.
"I am disappointed but not overly so," Ferguson said.
"I didn't know what the boy was thinking because we only had one discussion and he doesn't speak very good English.
Bureau Report
Ronaldinho was the second player in a month to turn down a move to Old Trafford, after Australian Harry Kewell's decision to join Liverpool.
United chief executive Peter Kenyon questioned whether either player had the nerve to take up the task of playing for United. "You have got to be a special player to play for Manchester United," he told the British press from the United States where United are on tour.
"We offer a major stage, champions league opportunities, a huge success factor in terms of picking up medals and financial guarantees.
"The regime is strict but it produces what most players want - a winning formula. Mentally you have to be tough enough to stand it.
"Players have to balance that against what is on offer at other places. You have to ask the question why they want to go somewhere else and you can take that how you want." United manager Sir Alex Ferguson said the Brazilian's snub would not affect the club.
"I am disappointed but not overly so," Ferguson said.
"I didn't know what the boy was thinking because we only had one discussion and he doesn't speak very good English.
Bureau Report