‘Perez didn’t want Ronaldo’

Former Real Madrid President Ramon Calderon says that successor Florentino Perez tried to veto Cristiano Ronaldo’s 2009 transfer to the club.

Ronaldo joined from Manchester United for a world record €80m fee that summer, but according to Calderon, it was against the then newly-elected President Perez’ wishes.

“Florentino Perez wanted to stop the signing of Cristiano Ronaldo,” Calderon claimed on TeleB last night.

“When he became President he found that Cristiano was already signed, and I know that he wanted to stop it, but [Jorge] Valdano and Jose Angel Sanchez convinced him not to.

“They said he was mad. He did not look kindly on it and Ronaldo knows this. That may be the source of their problems.

“Cristiano Ronaldo is in a difficult situation. This President has had not very positive reactions to those players that he has not signed.

“This was demonstrated with Robben, Sneijder, Higuain…and the same thing is happening with Ronaldo.

“I would love Cristiano to continue at Madrid. Yet experience shows that if a player does not want to stay…

“He must leave and be where he wants to be. Slavery has long been abolished.”

Calderon was asked of Jose Mourinho’s recent words questioning the validity of FIFA’s Ballon d’Or voting system.

“He is boring. He requires leadership and he misses the point more often than he should. To behave according to the greatness of Madrid, you have to be a part of its history, like Del Bosque.

“Del Bosque will be a part of this history, but the other one won’t be.

“Florentino is guilty of allowing Mourinho’s actions. Everyone knew what Mourinho was. He behaved badly at Inter, Chelsea…in Madrid it would not be different.

“Florentino already knew what we would be exposed to. He was in a desperate situation.”

Tags Florentino Perez mourinho Ramon Calderon Ronaldo
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