Cristiano Ronaldo has dropped a bombshell on Manchester United by claiming he "wants to play for Real Madrid" but only if the Spanish giants are prepared to pay the asking price.
Real have relentlessly pursued Ronaldo and could now land the talented Portuguese winger if they stump up around an estimated £70million which would be the most expensive football transfer in history.
"I would like to play for Real Madrid but only if it is true they are ready to pay what Manchester United ask of them," he told Brazilian website Terra.
"However, it does not depend on me."
Ronaldo says he hopes that the announcement would bring closure to the speculation linking him with a possible move to the Bernabeu.
The 23-year-old, who is preparing for Euro 2008 with the Portugal side, also insisted he will not discuss it until after the tournament.
He added: "From today I'm not going to talk about this topic with anyone at all.
"I'll only talk about this again after the European Championships.
"Don't ask me any questions because I won't answer."
United have repeatedly insisted their star player would still be at Old Trafford for the
2008/09 campaign.
Ronaldo, 23, scored 42 goals for the Premier League and European champions last
season.
The transfer could spark a major row between United and Madrid with manager Sir Alex Ferguson stating last month they may report the Spanish club to FIFA for making their pursuit of Ronaldo public.
Zinedine Zidane become the most expensive transfer in history when he joined Real from Juventus for £50million.
Real have relentlessly pursued Ronaldo and could now land the talented Portuguese winger if they stump up around an estimated £70million which would be the most expensive football transfer in history.
"I would like to play for Real Madrid but only if it is true they are ready to pay what Manchester United ask of them," he told Brazilian website Terra.
Ronaldo says he hopes that the announcement would bring closure to the speculation linking him with a possible move to the Bernabeu.
The 23-year-old, who is preparing for Euro 2008 with the Portugal side, also insisted he will not discuss it until after the tournament.
He added: "From today I'm not going to talk about this topic with anyone at all.
"I'll only talk about this again after the European Championships.
"Don't ask me any questions because I won't answer."
United have repeatedly insisted their star player would still be at Old Trafford for the
2008/09 campaign.
Ronaldo, 23, scored 42 goals for the Premier League and European champions last
season.
The transfer could spark a major row between United and Madrid with manager Sir Alex Ferguson stating last month they may report the Spanish club to FIFA for making their pursuit of Ronaldo public.
Zinedine Zidane become the most expensive transfer in history when he joined Real from Juventus for £50million.
Chelsea have offered Carlo Ancelotti £24million to become their new manager. Last night the double Champions League winning coach insisted that he is not leaving AC Milan but Sportsmail understands that a meeting between representatives of both parties took place at the George V Four Seasons Hotel in Paris on Monday.
Chelsea received enough encouragement to offer the Italian a four-year contract at £6m-a-season.
However, last night they were forced to release a statement admitting they had not come to an agreement.
Stamford Bridge officials then apparently suffered a humiliating setback when Ancelotti, 48, said: "I will stay in AC Milan for sure and for many seasons to come. I have not spoken to anyone at Chelsea."
But in a carefully-worded statement, Chelsea did not deny that they had talked to representatives of the Italian, nor that they had made an offer, and it is clear that he is top of owner Roman Abramovich's wish-list of replacements for sacked manager Avram Grant.
The Stamford Bridge club said: "The club have not reached agreement with any individual to become manager, nor have we sought permission from any organisation to talk to their manager."
The mixed messages leave the tantalising possibility of a battle of the billionaires, with Russian oligarch Abramovich facing a duel for Ancelotti with Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who owns the Italian club.
Abramovich appears to have decided on Ancelotti after advice from his personal scout Piet de Visser as well as his inner circle at Stamford Bridge.
Apart from the pre-requisite of a proven track record, they are thought to have been impressed by tactical flexibility and with his ability to handle the media calmly.
But Ancelotti's ability to handle some of the world's best players and not fall out with the dominating presence of Berlusconi is said to have made the biggest impact.
If the Italian does stay at Milan, Chelsea will look towards Luiz Felipe Scolari.
Mark Hughes, who had been linked with the job, is on his way to Manchester City after they agreed a £4.6m compensation deal with Blackburn.
Given Ancelotti's record in the Champions League, one of only five to win the European Cup as both player and manager, it is easy to understand why Abramovich is keen to bring in the manager he believes best able to deliver the trophy he covets above others.
A midfielder in the legendary AC Milan team of the late Eighties, he played alongside such greats as Paolo Maldini and the Dutch trio of Marco van Basten, Ruud Gullit and Frank Rijkaard, who has also been linked with the Chelsea job of late after parting company with Barcelona.
Ancelotti tasted European Cup success in back-to-back seasons in 1989 and 1990. Regarded as the voice of esteemed Milan manager Arrigo Sacchi on the pitch, it came as little surprise that Ancelotti opted to go into coaching.
His first managerial post came with in 1995 with Reggiana, who he guided to Serie A after one season in charge.
A move to former club Parma followed and with it came his first European managerial success, the 1999 UEFA Cup.
Two seasons as Marcelo Lippi's successor at Juventus came next, and two secondplaced finishes in Serie A.
But it was the move to AC Milan in 2001, as replacement for Fatih Terim, which cemented Ancelotti's place in the Italian coaching pantheon.
In his seven seasons at the helm, Milan have won the Serie A title, the Coppa Italia, the Italian Super Cup, two UEFA Super Cups, a World Club Championship and, most significantly as far as Abramovich is concerned, two Champions League titles.
The first European Cup success came with a 3-2 victory on penalties over former side Juventus in 2003 at Old Trafford, the second with a 2-1 win over Liverpool in Athens in 2007.
Having coached the superstars such as Rivaldo, Cafu, Clarence Seedorf, Filippo Inzaghi, Andriy Shevchenko and Kaka, Ancelotti is no stranger to the demands of handling the kind of star-studded dressing room Abramovich is eager to create at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea received enough encouragement to offer the Italian a four-year contract at £6m-a-season.
However, last night they were forced to release a statement admitting they had not come to an agreement.
Stamford Bridge officials then apparently suffered a humiliating setback when Ancelotti, 48, said: "I will stay in AC Milan for sure and for many seasons to come. I have not spoken to anyone at Chelsea."
But in a carefully-worded statement, Chelsea did not deny that they had talked to representatives of the Italian, nor that they had made an offer, and it is clear that he is top of owner Roman Abramovich's wish-list of replacements for sacked manager Avram Grant.
The Stamford Bridge club said: "The club have not reached agreement with any individual to become manager, nor have we sought permission from any organisation to talk to their manager."
The mixed messages leave the tantalising possibility of a battle of the billionaires, with Russian oligarch Abramovich facing a duel for Ancelotti with Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who owns the Italian club.
Abramovich appears to have decided on Ancelotti after advice from his personal scout Piet de Visser as well as his inner circle at Stamford Bridge.
Apart from the pre-requisite of a proven track record, they are thought to have been impressed by tactical flexibility and with his ability to handle the media calmly.
But Ancelotti's ability to handle some of the world's best players and not fall out with the dominating presence of Berlusconi is said to have made the biggest impact.
If the Italian does stay at Milan, Chelsea will look towards Luiz Felipe Scolari.
Mark Hughes, who had been linked with the job, is on his way to Manchester City after they agreed a £4.6m compensation deal with Blackburn.
Given Ancelotti's record in the Champions League, one of only five to win the European Cup as both player and manager, it is easy to understand why Abramovich is keen to bring in the manager he believes best able to deliver the trophy he covets above others.
A midfielder in the legendary AC Milan team of the late Eighties, he played alongside such greats as Paolo Maldini and the Dutch trio of Marco van Basten, Ruud Gullit and Frank Rijkaard, who has also been linked with the Chelsea job of late after parting company with Barcelona.
Ancelotti tasted European Cup success in back-to-back seasons in 1989 and 1990. Regarded as the voice of esteemed Milan manager Arrigo Sacchi on the pitch, it came as little surprise that Ancelotti opted to go into coaching.
His first managerial post came with in 1995 with Reggiana, who he guided to Serie A after one season in charge.
A move to former club Parma followed and with it came his first European managerial success, the 1999 UEFA Cup.
Two seasons as Marcelo Lippi's successor at Juventus came next, and two secondplaced finishes in Serie A.
But it was the move to AC Milan in 2001, as replacement for Fatih Terim, which cemented Ancelotti's place in the Italian coaching pantheon.
In his seven seasons at the helm, Milan have won the Serie A title, the Coppa Italia, the Italian Super Cup, two UEFA Super Cups, a World Club Championship and, most significantly as far as Abramovich is concerned, two Champions League titles.
The first European Cup success came with a 3-2 victory on penalties over former side Juventus in 2003 at Old Trafford, the second with a 2-1 win over Liverpool in Athens in 2007.
Having coached the superstars such as Rivaldo, Cafu, Clarence Seedorf, Filippo Inzaghi, Andriy Shevchenko and Kaka, Ancelotti is no stranger to the demands of handling the kind of star-studded dressing room Abramovich is eager to create at Stamford Bridge.
Foreigners attending the Beijing Olympics better behave - or else.The Beijing Olympic organizing committee issued a stern, nine-page document - covering 57 topics. Written only in Chinese and posted of the organizers' official Web site, the guide covers everything from a ban on sleeping outdoors to the need for government permission to stage a protest.
The document, not immediately available in English, also said having Olympic tickets is no guarantee of getting a visa to enter China.
"Those holding Olympic tickets are not guaranteed of being granted a visa," the guide said. "They still need to visit China embassies and consulates and apply for visas according to the related rules."
Fearing protests during the Aug. 8-24 Olympics, China's authoritarian government has tightened controls on visas and residence permits for foreigners. It has also promised a massive security presence at the games, which may include undercover agents dressed as volunteers.
The government is hoping to keep out activists and students who might stage pro-Tibet rallies that would be broadcast around the world. It also fears protests over China's oil and arms trade with Sudan, and any disquiet from predominantly Muslim regions in western China.
"In order to hold any public gathering, parade or protest the organizer must apply with the local police authorities. No such activity can be held unless a permit is given.
Any illegal gatherings, parades and protests and refusal to comply are subject to administrative punishments or criminal prosecution."
The document also warns against the display of insulting slogans or banners at any sporting venue. It also forbids any religious or political banner in an Olympic venue "that disturbs the public order."
The guidelines seems to clash with a pledge made two month ago by International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge, who said athletes could exercise freedom of speech in China. He asked only that athletes refrain from making political statements at certain official Olympics venues.
"Freedom of expression is something that is absolute," Rogge said in Beijing in April. It's a human right. Athletes have it."
The highly detailed document is entitled: "A guide to Chinese law for Foreigners coming to, leaving or staying in China during the Olympics." This appears under the slogan of the Beijing Olympics: "One World, One Dream."
For months Chinese authorities denied there had been any change to visa regulations, but recently acknowledged that rules had been amended.
The changes may have little affect on some of the 500,000 foreigners expected to visit for the Olympics, many of whom will come on package tours with visas already arranged.
The rules published Monday say entry will be denied to those "who might conduct acts of terrorism, violence and government subversion ... and those who might engage in activities endangering China's national security and national interest."
The rules also bar entry to smugglers, drug traffickers, prostitutes and those with "mental diseases" or contagious conditions.
The document also warns foreigners that not all areas of the country are open to visitors. One such area is Tibet, which is also off limits to journalists.
"Not all of China is open to foreigners, and they shall not go to any venue not open to them," the statement said.
The guide also spells out a long list of items that cannot be brought into the country including weapons, imitation weapons, ammunition, explosives, counterfeit currency, drugs and poisons. It also prohibits the entry of materials "that are harmful to China's politics, economics, culture and morals".
Foreigners staying with Chinese residents in urban areas must register at a local police station within 24 hours of arriving. The limit in rural areas is 72 hours.
The guide also threatens criminal prosecution against anyone "who burns, defaces ... insults or tramps on the national flag or insignia."
For those planning on sleeping outdoors to save a little money - forget it. This is banned in order to "maintain public hygiene and the cultured image of the cities."
The document, not immediately available in English, also said having Olympic tickets is no guarantee of getting a visa to enter China.
"Those holding Olympic tickets are not guaranteed of being granted a visa," the guide said. "They still need to visit China embassies and consulates and apply for visas according to the related rules."
Fearing protests during the Aug. 8-24 Olympics, China's authoritarian government has tightened controls on visas and residence permits for foreigners. It has also promised a massive security presence at the games, which may include undercover agents dressed as volunteers.
The government is hoping to keep out activists and students who might stage pro-Tibet rallies that would be broadcast around the world. It also fears protests over China's oil and arms trade with Sudan, and any disquiet from predominantly Muslim regions in western China.
"In order to hold any public gathering, parade or protest the organizer must apply with the local police authorities. No such activity can be held unless a permit is given.
Any illegal gatherings, parades and protests and refusal to comply are subject to administrative punishments or criminal prosecution."
The document also warns against the display of insulting slogans or banners at any sporting venue. It also forbids any religious or political banner in an Olympic venue "that disturbs the public order."
The guidelines seems to clash with a pledge made two month ago by International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge, who said athletes could exercise freedom of speech in China. He asked only that athletes refrain from making political statements at certain official Olympics venues.
"Freedom of expression is something that is absolute," Rogge said in Beijing in April. It's a human right. Athletes have it."
The highly detailed document is entitled: "A guide to Chinese law for Foreigners coming to, leaving or staying in China during the Olympics." This appears under the slogan of the Beijing Olympics: "One World, One Dream."
For months Chinese authorities denied there had been any change to visa regulations, but recently acknowledged that rules had been amended.
The changes may have little affect on some of the 500,000 foreigners expected to visit for the Olympics, many of whom will come on package tours with visas already arranged.
The rules published Monday say entry will be denied to those "who might conduct acts of terrorism, violence and government subversion ... and those who might engage in activities endangering China's national security and national interest."
The rules also bar entry to smugglers, drug traffickers, prostitutes and those with "mental diseases" or contagious conditions.
The document also warns foreigners that not all areas of the country are open to visitors. One such area is Tibet, which is also off limits to journalists.
"Not all of China is open to foreigners, and they shall not go to any venue not open to them," the statement said.
The guide also spells out a long list of items that cannot be brought into the country including weapons, imitation weapons, ammunition, explosives, counterfeit currency, drugs and poisons. It also prohibits the entry of materials "that are harmful to China's politics, economics, culture and morals".
Foreigners staying with Chinese residents in urban areas must register at a local police station within 24 hours of arriving. The limit in rural areas is 72 hours.
The guide also threatens criminal prosecution against anyone "who burns, defaces ... insults or tramps on the national flag or insignia."
For those planning on sleeping outdoors to save a little money - forget it. This is banned in order to "maintain public hygiene and the cultured image of the cities."
England boss Fabio Capello has insisted that restoring David Beckham to the captaincy of his country for today's friendly against Trinidad and Tobago is not simply a PR stunt.
Capello admitted that for his employers, the Football Association, the game might be a political exercise to win the backing of Jack Warner, the FIFA vice-president who heads Caribbean football, for their bid to host the World Cup in 2018. But Capello is adamant that footballing reasons alone were behind his decision to restore Beckham to the captaincy, a position the player gave up following the 2006 World Cup.
The manager said: 'My work is not PR, my work is to be manager and to win, nothing more. It's possible, I think, for the FA the match is PR. For me, it's a game. It's not because of his name that Beckham is here, it's because he's fit and a very good player.'
The Italian, who for a time exiled Beckham from his team while the pair were at Real Madrid, says the LA Galaxy midfielder is in contention not only to play at the 2010 World Cup, by which time he will be 35, but also to be his full-time skipper.
That role is still thought more likely to go to Manchester United's Rio Ferdinand, but Capello rejected suggestions that Beckham, 33, donning the armband today is another gimmick for what many regard as the most blatantly political match England have ever played.
Capello added: 'I decided there were five or six candidates (to be captain). Beckham is one of the candidates. I do not know the future. It's possible he will play at the 2010 World Cup. It depends if he's fit physically.' Some will regard the Beckham return to favour as a backward step but he demonstrated with the cross, from which John Terry gave England the lead in their 2-0 friendly win over the USA at Wembley last week, that he can still make key contributions to the team.
Capello reiterated that the door was always open for players like Blackburn's David Bentley to move ahead of Beckham in the pecking order, but it seems that the Italian does not believe any of the young pretenders have yet made a compelling case to replace the man who has been England's talisman for so long.
Ferdinand, meanwhile, claims this first extended get-together of Capello's reign has deepened his conviction that the Italian is the man to end decades of underachievement by England.
'The games against the United States and Trinidad and the training we've been doing are geared towards achieving a lot more than we have under other England managers,' said Ferdinand, the only Englishman who featured in the United-Chelsea Champions League final to make this trip.
'There will be a big hole on my c.v. if I don't achieve something with England. 'It's obvious that it has got to the stage now with England where it is a psychological thing, because the country hasn't achieved anything of note since 1966 so there hasn't been that consistency of a winning mentality.
'First and foremost, you have to have the quality, but then you need to have the belief factor, and that is what the manager is trying hard to instill.
'He sees us as individuals with our clubs performing week in, week out at a good level in the Premier League and Champions League, and now it's about getting that as a collective unit in an England shirt.
'This is the most optimistic I've ever felt with England. The manager's record speaks for itself and if you can't believe in someone of his stature, who has had his achievements in football, then I don't know who you can believe in.'
Capello admitted that for his employers, the Football Association, the game might be a political exercise to win the backing of Jack Warner, the FIFA vice-president who heads Caribbean football, for their bid to host the World Cup in 2018. But Capello is adamant that footballing reasons alone were behind his decision to restore Beckham to the captaincy, a position the player gave up following the 2006 World Cup.
The manager said: 'My work is not PR, my work is to be manager and to win, nothing more. It's possible, I think, for the FA the match is PR. For me, it's a game. It's not because of his name that Beckham is here, it's because he's fit and a very good player.'
The Italian, who for a time exiled Beckham from his team while the pair were at Real Madrid, says the LA Galaxy midfielder is in contention not only to play at the 2010 World Cup, by which time he will be 35, but also to be his full-time skipper.
That role is still thought more likely to go to Manchester United's Rio Ferdinand, but Capello rejected suggestions that Beckham, 33, donning the armband today is another gimmick for what many regard as the most blatantly political match England have ever played.
Capello added: 'I decided there were five or six candidates (to be captain). Beckham is one of the candidates. I do not know the future. It's possible he will play at the 2010 World Cup. It depends if he's fit physically.' Some will regard the Beckham return to favour as a backward step but he demonstrated with the cross, from which John Terry gave England the lead in their 2-0 friendly win over the USA at Wembley last week, that he can still make key contributions to the team.
Capello reiterated that the door was always open for players like Blackburn's David Bentley to move ahead of Beckham in the pecking order, but it seems that the Italian does not believe any of the young pretenders have yet made a compelling case to replace the man who has been England's talisman for so long.
Ferdinand, meanwhile, claims this first extended get-together of Capello's reign has deepened his conviction that the Italian is the man to end decades of underachievement by England.
'The games against the United States and Trinidad and the training we've been doing are geared towards achieving a lot more than we have under other England managers,' said Ferdinand, the only Englishman who featured in the United-Chelsea Champions League final to make this trip.
'There will be a big hole on my c.v. if I don't achieve something with England. 'It's obvious that it has got to the stage now with England where it is a psychological thing, because the country hasn't achieved anything of note since 1966 so there hasn't been that consistency of a winning mentality.
'First and foremost, you have to have the quality, but then you need to have the belief factor, and that is what the manager is trying hard to instill.
'He sees us as individuals with our clubs performing week in, week out at a good level in the Premier League and Champions League, and now it's about getting that as a collective unit in an England shirt.
'This is the most optimistic I've ever felt with England. The manager's record speaks for itself and if you can't believe in someone of his stature, who has had his achievements in football, then I don't know who you can believe in.'
