Barca quell Ronaldo talk

08/02/2007 15:04, Report by Ben Hibbs




Barcelona have played down mounting speculation linking them with a potential summer move for United winger Cristiano Ronaldo, insisting they have made no approach for the player.

Rumours were fuelled on Tuesday night when his agent Jorge Mendes was seen sat next to Barca's sporting director Txiki Begiristain at the Emirates Stadium as the 22-year-old skippered Portugal to victory over Brazil. However, Barcelona vice-president Ferran Soriano says there is a simple explanation.

"Jorge Mendes is the agent for many of our players, including Deco, so the meeting doesn't mean anything," he told BBC Radio Five Live. "There has been no approach to the player or Manchester United."

Although Soriano did not irrefutably rule out a future bid for Ronaldo, he did indicate that the Catalan club already possess three creative attacking players.

"In general terms, we do like to sign the best players in the world but we already have Ronaldinho, Samuel Eto'o and Lionel Messi in this type of position."

Ronaldo recently pledged his future to United in an interview with FourFourTwo magazine, saying: "I've got a contract at United. If [interested clubs] speak to anyone it's my agent, not me. I told my agent I'm happy here and want to continue."


CREDIT: MANUTD.COM