Premier League - Ronaldo next for ambitious City
Eurosport - Tue, 02 Sep 16:08:00 2008
Dr Sulaiman Al-Fahim, the owner-elect of Manchester City, will make a record breaking bid for Cristiano Ronaldo in January.
Al-Fahim and the Abu Dhabi United Group (ADUG) are plotting to follow up the sensational capture of Robinho on transfer deadline day with the signing of Manchester United's prize asset once the transfer window re-opens next year.
"Ronaldo has said he wants to play for the biggest club in the world, so we will see in January if he is serious," Al-Fahim told Arabian Business magazine.
"Real Madrid were estimating his value at $160 million but for a player like that, to actually get him, will cost a lot more, I would think $240 million (Ј134.3m).
"But why not? We are going to be the biggest club in the world, bigger than both Real Madrid and Manchester United."
During the interview, conducted moments after ADUG and City signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the change of ownership, Al-Fahim also outlined his ambition to bring Liverpool's Fernando Torres and Arsenal's Cesc Fabregas to Eastlands.
He added: "We're not just going to spend money on anyone, but if we can get the biggest players in the world, and of course if the manager wants them, then we will get them."
Al-Fahim expects his group's takeover of City to have the same impact as Roman Abramovich's buy-out of Chelsea five years ago.
