07/03/2006
Unhappy Ronaldo hints at Real Madrid exit at end of season

Three-time World Player of the Year Ronaldo gave his biggest hint yet on Friday that he will leave Spanish giants Real Madrid at the end of the season, two months after saying he felt unhappy.

The Brazilian striker is in his fourth year at the club but his tenuous relationship with fans at the Bernabeu, which erupted in February when he lashed out at them in an interview after he was roundly jeered during a Champions League defeat to Arsenal, led him to admitting he was unhappy.

Ronaldo shocked the club by saying he had never felt at home in Madrid, feeling that fans had never taken to him despite his goalscoring exploits.

His comments prompted As sports daily to opine in February that “the board of directors has initiated the transfer of Ronaldo”.

Speaking at a press conference on Friday he suggested that his spell at the nine-time European champions was coming to a close.

“I am the last to decide – I have a contract with Madrid and I have my wishes,” he said. “I’ve not taken any decision.”

Turning his attention to his treatment by the fans, he added: “I don’t want to talk about my relationship with the Bernabeu fans – I said what had to be said.”

Ronaldo was alluding to his previous comment that the fans never showed any patience with him, although he did accept that a good performance generally brought due praise from the crowd.

“Goals are the solution to everything. When you score the fans are happier and there is less controversy,” he said.

Ronaldo, who has been linked with former club Inter Milan and their city rivals AC Milan, said nevertheless little had changed in his heart despite recent good form which included a goal that rescued a point last weekend at Barcelona.

“I still think the same way but I don’t want to talk too much about it as anything you do say could make things worse. I am not sad but want to avoid a controversy.”

Ronaldo, who arrived in Madrid fresh from 2002 World Cup glory, has won one Spanish League title but failed to land the Champions League he craves with the club continually flopping in Europe's premier competition.

He added that his status in the game meant it seemed there were “big repercussions around the world” if he was off his game, but during such periods he felt as if he had the cares of the world to carry on his shoulders, despite being club top scorer with 13 in the league.

This season, Real are set to make it three years without a trophy having been dumped out of the Champions League by Arsenal in the last 16 after failing to score in either leg and sitting 11 points behind Barcelona as the league enters its final stretch.

09.04.2006 07:55 +0400
thestar.com.my