Man City dismiss Ronaldo move

Pa
Tuesday 16 September 2008 10:36 BST
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(AFP/Getty Images)

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Manchester City will not be signing Brazil's three-time World Footballer of the Year Ronaldo. Reports have emerged from Spain that the out-of-contract 31-year-old had accepted an offer from City to join fellow countrymen Robinho and Jo at Eastlands.

Ronaldo is without a club since leaving AC Milan in the summer and is currently recovering from a serious knee injury he suffered in February.

He claimed he was ready to link up with fellow Brazilian Robinho at Eastlands and was quoted as saying, "I like the project that Manchester City have presented me. They want to make the club one of the best in the world and I feel that I can help.

"It is the best offer I've received and it will be very interesting to play with Robinho. Me and him, together, we can score more than 50 goals."

However, while executive chairman Garry Cook did meet the player and club officials carried out medical checks on a knee ligament injury Ronaldo sustained in February, the club will not be completing a deal.

"We had shown a past interest in bringing the player to the football club in the right circumstances and spoke to him and his representatives," admitted a club spokesperson.

"However, we have chosen not to pursue the matter."

Recent photographs of the former World Cup winner indicate he is way over his "fighting" weight and unlikely to challenge Robinho or Jo for a first-team place.

It perhaps also shows that manager Mark Hughes is being allowed to manage the club his way.

Hughes never got involved in the high-profile courting of Ronaldinho during the summer and signing Ronaldo makes even less sense.

His stated aim is to bring in players who still have a desire to make an impact at the highest level, a description that would no longer seem to apply in Ronaldo's case.

City's takeover by the Abu Dhabi-based United Group for Development and Investment is due to be completed this week but it will be January before they can make any further meaningful additions to Hughes' squad.

In the meantime, the Blues will head to Cyprus for Thursday's UEFA Cup clash against Omonia Nicosia, with Robinho looking to build on his memorable debut day strike against Chelsea on Saturday.

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