Watch Live Soccer on your computer Udinese vs Juventus

Udinese vs Juventus






















Date: Apr. 3, 2010,
Time: 3:00 GMT
Competition: Italy Serie A
Live/Repeat: Live link

Ronaldo fifa world player

Calderon: Ronaldo snubbed Barca for Real move

Ronaldo finally completed his much talked about move to Madrid last summer for a world record fee of £80 million.

Madrid had long been pursuing the Portugal international and the relationship between the two clubs had rapidly disintegrated with United manager Sir Alex Ferguson famously claiming he would not sell the Primera Division outfit "a virus''.

Calderon, who resigned as president at the beginning of last year, admitted Madrid would have been pipped to the post for Ronaldo's signature had the FIFA world player of the year not had such a strong desire to move to the Bernabeu.

The former Madrid chief also revealed that both the club and player accepted a clause which would have ensured a €30 million fine had either of them pulled out of the deal. "Cristiano reached an agreement on December 8 2008 with Manchester United to come to Real Madrid,'' Calderon told Eurosport.

Ronaldo finally completed his much talked about move to Madrid last summer for a world record fee of £80 million.

Madrid had long been pursuing the Portugal international and the relationship between the two clubs had rapidly disintegrated with United manager Sir Alex Ferguson famously claiming he would not sell the Primera Division outfit "a virus''.

Calderon, who resigned as president at the beginning of last year, admitted Madrid would have been pipped to the post for Ronaldo's signature had the FIFA world player of the year not had such a strong desire to move to the Bernabeu.

The former Madrid chief also revealed that both the club and player accepted a clause which would have ensured a €30 million fine had either of them pulled out of the deal. "Cristiano reached an agreement on December 8 2008 with Manchester United to come to Real Madrid,'' Calderon told Eurosport.

Ronaldo security in the world cup

Ronaldo backs security in South Africa

"I think it's going to be amazing," he told KickOff. "I have never been there [South Africa] before and I am looking forward to playing in the World Cup.

"All the players are motivated for this tournament and I think it will be fantastic. South Africa is a beautiful country and it will be fantastic to play there."

Despite some negative press reports from the European media, Ronaldo claims that he is happy that the tournament is being held in South Africa and that there are no problems to worry about.

"It's not nice to hear this," Ronaldo responded. "Of course, people are worried that the World Cup is there. But I remember in 2004 [at the European Championships] in Portugal and people were critical, saying 'Oh, Portugal is not good, it is not a big country', but it was amazing because everyone enjoyed the tournament, everyone was happy there.

"And I think South Africa will be the same. Everyone is friendly there, the country is very beautiful, it has everything to be able to do a good job. There is no problem; I am not worried about it."

Despite the attention brought to the continent with the attack on the Togo side during the African Nations Cup, Ronaldo is sure that nothing similiar will happen.

"It is not good when this happens in football," he added. "But when we go to South Africa it will not happen because the security is great. To be honest, I am not thinking about that but, of course, it does make me feel sad because something like this has happened in football. I am sad rather than worried."

"I think it's going to be amazing," he told KickOff. "I have never been there [South Africa] before and I am looking forward to playing in the World Cup.

"All the players are motivated for this tournament and I think it will be fantastic. South Africa is a beautiful country and it will be fantastic to play there."

Despite some negative press reports from the European media, Ronaldo claims that he is happy that the tournament is being held in South Africa and that there are no problems to worry about.

"It's not nice to hear this," Ronaldo responded. "Of course, people are worried that the World Cup is there. But I remember in 2004 [at the European Championships] in Portugal and people were critical, saying 'Oh, Portugal is not good, it is not a big country', but it was amazing because everyone enjoyed the tournament, everyone was happy there.

"And I think South Africa will be the same. Everyone is friendly there, the country is very beautiful, it has everything to be able to do a good job. There is no problem; I am not worried about it."

Despite the attention brought to the continent with the attack on the Togo side during the African Nations Cup, Ronaldo is sure that nothing similiar will happen.

"It is not good when this happens in football," he added. "But when we go to South Africa it will not happen because the security is great. To be honest, I am not thinking about that but, of course, it does make me feel sad because something like this has happened in football. I am sad rather than worried."