Cristiano Ronaldo was upbeat with their victory over Middlesbrough despite lingering controversies on their win. The Reds win came from the penalty kick awarded to Ronaldo after being tripped by Middlesbrough’s Jonathan Wingate. The call was controversial in a sense that Middlesbrough believed that not much contact merited the penalty kick which evidently decided the marginal point of the match at the FA Cup semi-finals.

Despite the protests, it was pretty clear that contact was the reason for Ronaldo’s trip. Ronaldo took the protest personally, stressing that every time he is involved in controversial calls, it is because of political issues concerning his tenure at United.

Nevertheless, it is the team that has benefited from Ronaldo’s efforts and they are upbeat in their next match against Wattford. Admitting that the game will surely be one hell of a match, at the rate Ronaldo is going, United may find itself playing at Wembley next.

[tags]manchester united, reds, cristiano ronaldo, FA cup[/tags]

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Goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar has signed a new one-year contract at Manchester United to keep him at Old Trafford until the summer of 2008.

Van der Sar, 36 moved to United from Fulham 18 months ago.

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson said in the news:

“Edwin’s fit, lean and hungry and he can play for another two years, easy. It all depends on what what he wants. Our approach with players in their 30s is to give them one-year contracts and we’ve given him another one-year deal.”

Van der Sar has impressed Ferguson since his move from Fulham and is the undisputed first-choice at the club, who have loaned Tim Howard out to Everton this season.

“Edwin’s probably got a new lease of life coming to United,” Ferguson added.

“He did well at Fulham having previously been with Juventus and Ajax, but coming to us has given him an extra spur that a lot of goalkeepers get at that age. He is good in the dressing room, too. He’s not a terribly demonstrative person – he’s not like Peter Schmeichel for instance – but what he says has an authority about it because he has been there and that experience and personality is helping.”

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Striker Louis Saha has signed a contract extension with Manchester United that will keep him at Old Trafford until 2010.

France international Saha, 28, joined the Premiership leaders from Fulham in January 2004 for £12.8m.

Saha, who has scored 12 goals this season, told United’s website:

“I am really enjoying my time here. I want to show my commitment to Manchester United and repay the faith that they have shown in me.”

With Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney also committing themselves to long-term contracts recently, United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has secured the services of his current strikeforce for the forseeable future.

Ferguson said:

“I’m delighted we have extended Louis’ contract. We’re happy to see Louis here until at least 2010 and to add him to the players who have recently signed new contracts. We address the situation of players’ contracts now and then in order to strengthen the club and it’s great to add Louis to the list. His form has been fantastic since he has come back from injury and he has scored 26 goals in that time.”

Saha’s first two years at Old Trafford were blighted by injury, raising initial questions as to the wisdom of United’s outlay on him.

Since then, Saha’s pace, power and aerial threat has made him a vital member of United’s squad.

Saha added: “Hopefully we will have an exciting end to the season and add some silverware to the trophy room.”

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Teenager Freddy Adu must wait until June to find out if Manchester United will try and sign him, after completing his two-week trial at the club.

The USA midfielder impressed boss Sir Alex Ferguson, but under UK employment law he cannot make an offer until Adu reaches his 18th birthday next year.

“Freddy has done all right,” said Ferguson. “He is a talented boy. He’ll go back to the US and we’ll keep a check on him. When he is 18, we will have to assess what we can do next.”

Adu, who was given the nod by his MLS club DC United to attend the trial, has been training with United’s academy players at their Carrington training ground.

“What we did was to bring him here to give him an idea of what United was like so he could see the place and see how comfortable he was with it,” said Ferguson.

“He is a very confident and good, young boy but there is nothing we can do about him.”

The Ghanain-born Adu already enjoys a high profile in the US, where he became the youngest player to represent the national side.

The teenager, who is keen to test his mettle outside the US, has also attracted interest from Chelsea and Reading.

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Former Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy said he felt betrayed by Sir Alex Ferguson’s decision to drop him for the Carling Cup final.

The 30-year-old left Old Trafford for Real Madrid in July after scoring 150 goals in five seasons.

Van Nistelrooy said he had enjoyed a good relationship with Ferguson until he was dropped for February’s 4-0 win over Wigan at the Millennium Stadium.

“To me this felt like a stab in the back,” said Van Nistelrooy.

Louis Saha played instead of Van Nistelrooy in the Carling Cup final, with the Dutchman remaining on the bench for the full 90 minutes.

Ferguson said in August that Van Nistelrooy’s reaction to being dropped was one of the main reasons for his departure to Spain – and the Dutchman backed this view:

“The first three-quarters of last season went well for me, but the final part is best forgotten. My situation with Sir Alex started to change and it became difficult for me and him to work together.”

Van Nistelrooy said he had settled in well since moving to Spain.

“I feel like I have been here for 20 years and moving here is the best thing that has happened in my life. Being at Madrid is fantastic. The people are wonderful and that is a massive thing for me. I’ve had a great first impression of Real Madrid. The club has a fantastic set-up with marvellous people. The atmosphere at training is perfect – it’s just wonderful.”

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Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson expects Ruud van Nistelrooy to report for pre-season training.

Ferguson was said to have fallen out with the Dutchman after repeatedly leaving him on the bench.

But speaking to club TV station MUTV, Sir Alex said:

“Most players at the World Cup have got a three-week break. Those reporting on 24 July are Gary Neville, Wayne Rooney, Rio Ferdinand, Gabriel Heinze, Edwin van der Sar and Ruud van Nistelrooy.”

Ferguson did not make any further comment, but the fact he included Van Nistelrooy in the list is significant.

It was widely thought United’s top goal scorer last season would be on his way during the summer following a rift apparently caused by his lame display in an FA Cup defeat by Liverpool.

After that game, Ferguson rarely gave him a start, preferring Louis Saha instead, and Van Nistelrooy later claimed he was told to stay away from Roy Keane’s end-of-season testimonial.

Asked in May if his Old Trafford career might be over, the 29-year-old told Dutch television:

“You could have that feeling but it’s not that certain. No-one has said that to me so far. What has happened is not a positive sign but as long as I can’t do anything about it I won’t be preoccupied.”

Bayern Munich, AC Milan, Tottenham and Newcastle were among the clubs said to be interested in signing Van Nistelrooy if he became available.

Ferguson could have an interesting few weeks ahead of him, with Cristiano Ronaldo due to report back for pre-season training four days after Rooney.

There was an altercation between both players in the World Cup quarter-final match between England and Portugal.

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Manchester United striker Giuseppe Rossi has agreed a two-year extension to his current contract.

The 19-year-old, who made five Premiership appearances for United last season, has signed a deal that will keep him at Old Trafford until 2010.

Manager Sir Alex Ferguson, told the club website:

“We are delighted Giuseppe has signed a new contract, he represents the future of the club. Last year he had a remarkable season and he is developing all the time.”

Rossi joined United in July 2004 from Serie A club Parma, making his debut for the Red Devils in the Carling Cup tie against Crystal Palace in November that year.

He scored four goals in all competitions last season, including one in the Premiership against Sunderland, which helped United seal a 3-1 win.

Rossi, who also netted 30 times in 28 reserve team appearances last term, said: “It is great to have extended my contract with the best team in the world. I just hope to keep progressing and developing my career.”

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Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo says he will join Real Madrid or Barcelona after making it clear he wants to leave Old Trafford.

The 21-year-old has been criticised in England for his role in the sending off of United team-mate Wayne Rooney when Portugal beat England in the World Cup.

“I should get out of Manchester as the circumstances are not right,” he said to the Sun.

“Nobody stood up for me and my desire is to play in Spain. Will it be Real or Barcelona? It will be one of them.”

Ronaldo claimed: “For some time I haven’t had any support from my chief executive (David Gill) or my coach (Sir Alex Ferguson). They should have come out in my defence but no-one did. I am calm, I know I have done a good job and I’ve grown a lot in this World Cup, from a physical point of view and a mental one. In the next few seasons I will be even better.”

Ronaldo is under contract at Old Trafford until 2010 and boss Sir Alex Ferguson said last week he expected the player to report for pre-season training.

“When people have been involved in a bid to become president at Madrid they have used clubs like ours.”

New Real manager Fabio Capello said it was good news that Ronaldo was considering a move to The Bernabeu.

“He is a Manchester United player but everyone wants to come to play here and I think he really wants to and this is good news for me,” said Capello.

“We will have to wait and see but at the moment I cannot say anything.”

Ronaldo joined Manchester United from Sporting Lisbon for £12.24m in August 2003.

Former Celtic boss Martin O’Neill said Ferguson was the ideal person to diffuse the Rooney/Ronaldo disagreement.

He told BBC Radio Five Live: “One of the greatest managers of all time should sort that problem out, and I don’t think he’s had too much difficulty in the past.

“What do you do on the first day of training? I think you would have to lighten the mood. There will be a few weeks now after the World Cup is over before Manchester United meet up, and I think there might be a time of reflection for both of them, and I honestly think that they should put it to the side.”

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According to some TV reports….

Marcello Lippi is being lined up to join Alex Ferguson at Manchester United.

Italy boss Lippi has told friends he will quit after Sunday’s World Cup final.

He is now being linked with a role alongside Old Trafford chief Fergie. And that could see him eventually succeed the Scot.

Fergie is a long-standing friend and huge admirer of the former Juventus manager.

He once said of the Italian: “Just looking into his eyes is enough to tell you he’s in command of himself and his professional domain.”

Ferguson, 64, is expected to relinquish the reins after 20 years in charge at the end of the coming season. Italian sources believe Lippi, 58, could either work in tandem with the United supremo or under him — with Fergie promoted to general manager.

A source close to Lippi said:

“He is not looking for a lucrative contract since he has achieved success at the highest level. And working abroad is the only thing that interests him. He will not find it diminishing to work either alongside or under another manager.”

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Ronaldo would have to show huge resolve to turn public opinion back in his favour, even among Manchester United supporters, but his performance in Munich showed those commodities are not in short supply.

He was a major threat to France, particularly in the first half, a lone source of hope in a Portugal side that was too lightweight to threaten a serious knock-out blow to the rejuvenated 1998 champions.

The irony is that Ronaldo is the sort of player Sven-Goran Eriksson would have killed for to add an extra dimension to his squad.

Sadly, the other face of Ronaldo was also in evidence. The amateur dramatics – actually, let’s call it diving – that earned him the contempt of thousands inside this space-age home of Bayern Munich.

It is a sorry scar on the game of a lavishly-talented individual, and it is true there may be no way back for him in England as he continues, with perhaps a little too much zeal, to be set up as next season’s Premiership hate figure.

Ronaldo will have to grow a thick skin to survive the treatment he is likely to receive, although he appeared to grow with every round of abuse in Munich.

And yet, it may be something he can turn to his advantage, given his recent flirtation with Real Madrid.

If Ronaldo wants to leave Manchester for Madrid, what better excuse than to say life is now impossible in England?

It may well be – and The Bernabeu is not an unattractive alternative.

The sorry chapter in this saga is that Ronaldo showed again against France that there is a potentially stunning talent attempting to escape from the variety of feints, step-overs and dives that are a blot on his landscape.

Ronaldo may have cried in Munich – unfortunately for him and his talent, many others were laughing.

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