Gonzalo Higuain is becoming a goalscoring machine for Real

Cristiano Ronaldo’s Real Madrid temmate Gonzalo Higuain stole the show Sunday, netting two goals in his side’s 5-1 thrashing of Tenerife.

Higuain scored Madrid’s opening two goals and, after Tenerife pulled one back through a hotly disputed Ayoze Garcia strike, he turned creator, neatly setting up Kaka who duly made it 3-1.

Madrid were on cruise control and, with 10 minutes to go, added a fourth through Ronaldo’s typically calm decisive penalty kick before club captain Raul scored in stoppage time to add further gloss on the scoreline.

Madrid now sit 2 points behind Barcelona in the table and face a tricky midweek tie against Lyon, trailing 0-1 after the first leg.

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Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid, Spain

Real Madrid and Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo is set to return from his 2-month injury layoff on Wednesday.

Ronaldo has been included in Real’s 23-man squad for their cruicial Champions League match against Swiss champions FC Zurich.

Ronaldo has not seen action for Madrid since injuring his right ankle in September and has missed all nine the Spanish side’s matches in that period.

The $130m signing from Manchester United recently offered his personal reassurences that he would soon return from his hiatus and, it appears, he has been true to his word.

The Portuguese star could now feature in the revered ‘El Classico’ at the weekend, in which Real will face FC Barcelona at the Camp Nou.

Before his injury, Ronaldo had been in scorching form, scoring nine times in his first seven matches.

Real sit atop La Liga, one point clear of their arch rivals from the Basque Country in Northern Spain but are by no means assured of qualification from their Champions League group as thei trail AC Milan on goal difference and lead Marseille by only one point.

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Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid, Spain

Real Madrid’s $130m man - Portuguese soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo - has promised the club’s fans that he will soon return from his injury.

Ronaldo addressed the fans on Friday through Real’s website and told them he apreciated their patience and that he will be back in action sooner rather than later.

“Thank you to all the Madrid fans for the support they have given me during my injury,” said the former Machester united winger. “I will be back soon.”

Ronaldo, who was initially injured in mid-September and re-aggravated the problem 10 days later while playing for Portugal, hasn’t played for Real in over two months.

On Friday reports from the Spanish club indicated Ronaldo could be back in training by this weekend and that his recovery was ahead of schedule.

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Cristiano Ronaldo will be out indefinitely with an ankle problem

Real Madrid striker Cristiano Ronaldo has decided to consult his former specialist in the Netherlands after his prolonged ankle injury has failed to show signs of improvement.

Ronaldo, who became the world’s most expensive player after signing from Manchester United, originally suffered the injury to his right ankle in September and, after recovering,  re-aggravated it while playing for Portugal on October 10th — something that has angered Real Madrid president Florentino Perez.

“He cannot train and must continue treatment and relief work until another examination is made,” Perez fumed. “How can a nation (Portugal) be so careless with someone of such importance to them?”

Despite not being cleared to play, Ronaldo has been included in Portugal’s squad which is set to travel to Bosnia-Herzegovina on Nov. 18 for a crucial World Cup Qualifier.  The 24-year-old will then travel to Amsterdam to meet with Professor Niek van Dyjk who successfully treated treated the Portuguese star’s same ankle in 2008.

Early prognoses of Ronaldo’s injury suggested he would be sidelined for between three and four weeks.

Instead the 24-year-old, who scored nine goals in helping Real win each of their opening seven competitive matches this season, has missed his team’s last seven games, only two of which have been won.

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Ronaldo will wear the number 9 for Madrid

Cristiano Ronaldo was a bargain at £80m, according to ex Manchester United skipper Roy Keane.

Ronaldo left the Red Devils for Real Madrid in a world-record deal but United legend Keane feels the fee was justified.

“I’m OK with it,” stated the Irishman. “It’s just the way it is.

“Clubs are prepared to pay that, people talk about Ronaldo going for £80m - I look at other players and think Ronaldo’s cheap for £80m.”

Keane, who was once the prize in a British transfer record when he moved from Nottingham Forest to United for £3.75m in 1993 added that “He (Ronaldo) is the best player in the world. Footballers are classed as entertainers and if you look at any industry, the top people get the top money.”

Real had been chasing the signature of the Portuguese star for 3 seasons and there was a feeling of inevitability when news of the switch surfaced and United boss Sir Alex Ferguson had long been resigned to losing the jewel in his crown.

“He wanted to leave, it’s as simple as that,” said Ferguson. “He was going to go some time.”

“We’ve done well to keep him for so long.”

United now must face the prospect of a season without their talisman and have also lost Carlos Tevez to Manchester rivals City.

Ronaldo is expected to make his ‘Galacticos’ debut on Monday against Irish minnows Shamrock Rovers.

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Ronaldo to Madrid for $131

Cristiano Ronaldo looks set to fulfil his dream by moving to Real Madrid as the world’s most expensive ever footballer.

The Spanish giants Madrid have had an outrageous 80 million British pound bid accepted for the Portugese winger who will complete his move providing he passes a medical.

It is believed that Sir Alex Ferguson will be given free reign to buy whoever he wants with the transfer fees, ensuring an exciting summer for Manchester United.

United will still have to face the prospect of defending their Premiership crown without their prize asset, but the news about how the funds will be used, the feeling around the club remains upbeat.

United fans may now turn to Wayne Rooney - who is both younger and has a greater passion for the club than Ronaldo - to be ‘the man’ for the latest era of Manchester United.

The theory is that Rooney will finally be deployed in his favourite centre foreward role, the position that has been so fruitful while playing for England.

Whatever the outcome for Ronaldo in Madrid, one thing that is almost certain is that Manchester United, under the manegement of Ferguson will, in the end, come out stronger.

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Ronaldo leaves Rome

Cristiano Ronaldo and his Manchester United teamates will have to put the pain of defeat behind them as they go into the offseason.  United were well beaten 2-0 by Barcelona in Rome, their first ever loss in a European final.

Sir Alex Ferguson cast a figure of philosophic optimism in his post match press conference but acknowledged that, on the night, Barca were the better team.

“We didn’t play as well as we can but you have to give Barcelona credit,” said the United manager.

“Lionel Messi wasn’t the problem, Xavi and Andres Iniesta kept the ball all night and made it difficult for us.”

Ferguson, who has never suffered a European final defeat before Rome ‘09, added: “We started brightly and confidently and could have been in front in the first 10 minutes but the goal was a killer.

“We didn’t plan to lose a goal as early as that. We didn’t deal with it well enough, it gave them the opportunity to keep possession.”

And keep possession they did.  Barca passed the ball around expertly and United looked like ghosts.  Chasing shadows for 70+ minutes the Red Devils looked dejected and exhausted long before the final whistle.

Now it will be a long summer for Ferguson’s men while the back rooms will be looking towards keeping hold of, and acquiring prize assets.

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Ronaldo scored from 40 yards

Cristiano Ronaldo struck a brilliant first half winner as Manchester United scraped past Porto and into the Champions League semi-finals.

Ronaldo’s monumental early strike from all of 40 yards zipped through the air and into the top left hand corner of the net.  Ronaldo later described the goal as “beautiful” and “the best I have scored” and it got United off to the perfect start.

Nemanja Vidic could have sealed things just before half time, but he missed a glorious chance; firing over from 4 yards after a Ryan Giggs corner.

United and Porto were both 100% committed to the match, leading to a midfield war-ground and few clear chances.

Lisandro Lopez could have saved Porto late on, but Edwin van der Sar easily stifled his scuffed effort.

In truth, United were deserving of their win and kept a clean sheet for the first time since beating inter 2-0 back in March.

With the win United became the first English team in history to win at Porto’s Estadio Do Dragao, a feat that cannot be underestimated.

The crowd were raucous throughout and the carnival atmosphere was something to behold.  The home fans kept good voice throughout but were out-sung by United’s famous traveling fans for much of the first half as that-boy-Ronaldo put their Red Devils in front.

Ronaldo and United will now face Arsenal in the semi-finals in what promises to be a stunning exhibition of England’s two best footballing teams.

End note:  Chelsea F.C also and Arsenal join United and Barcelona in the final four, making it 9 English teams out of the last 12 semi-finalists since 2006-07; England has had 3 teams in the semis for 3 straight years.

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Vidic, Ronaldo

Roanldo rises

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Tevez (2), Rooney, Park J.S.

Manchester United celebrate Rooney

Manchester United kept their quest for five trophies alive as they dispatched Fulham with consumate ease to reach the Semi-Finals of the FA Cup on Saturday. 

United have already won the Club World Cup and the Carling cup to keep them on track for the most historic of seasons.

Carlos Tevez headed United in front after 21 minutes before completing his brace on the stroke of half time with a 30 yard wonder strike.

Fulham showed some resistance after the break but their day was summed up when Nemanja Vidic somehow scrambled Andrew Johnson’s effort off the line.  United sealed another Wembley appearance after Wayne Rooney and then Ji-Sung Park rounded off the rout.

United headed into Saturday’s clash with Fulham on the back of a 13 game Premiership win streak that has them 7 points clear of Chelsea and Liverpool and in position to win their 18th league title.  Sir Alex’s team sheet was absent of a few of his biggest stars as Bebatov, Ronaldo, Giggs and Scholes were given time off. 

The Red Devil’s strangth of squad was underlined however, as they swept Fulham aside to set up a semi-final with Everton at Wembley in four weeks time.

United are now threatening to do what was thought impossible and win all 5 trophies available to them in a single season.  If they can get past Inter Milan on Wednesday, United will be in the Quarter-finals of the Champions League, Semi-finals of the FA cup with the Premiership title all but won.

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