Real Madrid and Cristiano Ronaldo

The way Real Madrid has conducted itself with regard to Cristiano Ronaldo is shameful in every sense.  They’ve been pursuing him for the past couple of years.  But this summer, the noise from them has been deafening.  It’s the most blatant tapping up of a player I’ve ever seen.  And now that United have rightly complained to FIFA about it, Real Madrid say that United have no evidence.

No evidence?  Everyone knows that Marca is basically the marketing arm of Real Madrid.  Everyone knows that they’d never publish what they have unless they were getting it from inside the club.  Let’s be honest here.  Real Madrid have engaged in an overt campaign to unsettle the most exciting young player in the world and bring him over to them.

They have undoubtedly tampered with him and should pay a heavy penalty, whether they get Ronaldo or not.  Tapping up happens all the time.  But to do it this openly is horrifying and FIFA needs to send a strong message: “This behavior cannot be allowed to stand.”