Manchester United footballer Cristiano Ronaldo has started libel proceedings over a newspaper article alleging he was fined £8,000 (€10,506) in one day for using his mobile phone during training.
Top London law firm Schillings announced that it has issued libel proceedings at the High Court against News Group Newspapers, owners of The Sun.
The libel claim follows publication of an article headed “Text-Mad Ronaldo fined £8k, Fergie’s Fury on phone ban. Exclusive”, which alleged that the footballer was fined £8,000 in one day by his manager, Alex Ferguson, for using his mobile phone four times during training.
Simon Smith, Ronaldo’s solicitor in London, said: “Our client is a professional footballer who takes his training very seriously.
“The Sun article wrongly accuses him of being unprofessional and he felt he had to take legal action in order to protect his reputation.”
[Source]
So… the ‘phone addication’ story is not true then?
Cristiano Ronaldo was fined £8000 in one day by Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson… for using his mobile phone during training.
The 23-year-old Portuguese winger was caught texting four times during a single session at the club’s Carrington complex.
Strict Fergie, 66, is tightening the screw on players who are not completely focused during the club’s midweek preparation.
He has been hitting his stars in the pocket with on-the-spot £2,000 penalties for every offence.
A United source said: “The players all respect Sir Alex’s discipline. He is not a man to be messed with.
“But a few of the players have been sneaking their mobile phones on to the training pitch to send the odd text message between sessions.
“Fergie and his assistants have been cracking down on it big time recently. They insist that mobiles stay in lockers and should not be used until training is finished.”
[Source]
Sir Alex Ferguson has promised Cristiano Ronaldo a bumper pay rise if the free-scoring Manchester United winger can fire 13 more Premier League goals – giving him 30 for the season.
Ronaldo continued his remarkable goalscoring run with two in United’s 3-1 fourth-round FA Cup tie against Tottenham on Sunday, to take his tally for the season to 25 in 27 games.
He has 17 goals in the Premier League, five in the Champions League and three in the FA Cup.
Although boss Fergie believes it is unlikely his Portuguese attacker will hit the 30- goal mark in the Premier League this season, he has promised the £110,000-a-week star even more money if he reaches the milestone.
[Source]
Cristiano Ronaldo has been challenged by Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson to hit 30 goals this season.
The Portuguese winger has already scored 23 times in all competitions this campaign for the reigning Premier League champions and heads the top-flight scoring table with 17 goals.
“With Ronaldo having scored 23 goals already, there is the potential for him to score 30 this season without question,” Ferguson said.
“He is not that far off and he has a strong chance of doing that.
“I’m sure that he is capable of scoring 30 league goals, though I think that is a different matter entirely.
“Achieving that would be more difficult and I don’t think that will happen. It is a big ask, but if he does manage it, I’ll pay him more money.”
[Source]
Cristiano Ronaldo has rejected the chance to make it a hat-trick of winning wagers with Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
The Portugal winger has emerged triumphant on the personal wagers in the past two seasons by easily eclipsing the 15 and 20 goal totals set by Ferguson and landing £400 in the process.
However, sick of always finishing a loser, the wily Scot has decided to up the ante this time around. And having presented Ronaldo with a massive 35 goals to aim for, the 22-year-old politely declined.
“I won’t be having a bet with Ronaldo this season because he has refused my offer,” laughed Ferguson.
“I told him that I would be asking for 35 goals from him this year, but he said no, so there will be no betting this season.”
[Source]