"DIVENE TALENT"?
February 5th 2007 20:53
QUEIROZ: RONALDO HAS 'DIVINE TALENT'
Carlos Queiroz has tipped Cristiano Ronaldo for footballing superstardom.
The young Portugal winger scored a penalty during another sensational performance in Manchester United’s 4-0 win at Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.
On current evidence, the 21-year-old is likely to be in the running for a host of Player of the Year awards this season.
Despite reports linking Ronaldo with a move elsewhere, United have repeatedly insisted he is going nowhere, with Queiroz revealing the Red Devils are ready to open contract negotiations with the player, whose present deal does not expire until 2010.
And Queiroz, who helped persuade Ronaldo to remain at United this season following the negative publicity he attracted during the World Cup, is adamant the wide man can have the same huge impact on football as Michael Jordan has done in the basketball world.
“I have seen many players throughout my career but I believe that over the next decade Cristiano Ronaldo will be European football’s equivalent to Michael Jordan in the NBA,” Queiroz told A Bola.
“The kid has a divine talent. I have never seen a player with this level of ability. His technique, physique, athleticism and imagination, and added to this is his attitude in training and matches. He will be a star for the best part of 10 years.”
Meanwhile, John O’Shea intends to donate his unique United goalkeeping shirt to charity.
The Republic of Ireland international spent the final 10 minutes of the win at Tottenham in goal after Robbie Keane accidentally broke Edwin van der Sar’s nose.
To the glee of the United fans, O’Shea managed to keep a clean sheet, too, memorably robbing Keane of possession on one occasion when Rio Ferdinand - who donned the keeper’s shirt himself at one stage - sold him short with a backpass.
With Tomasz Kuszczak lined up to replace Van der Sar in next weekend’s Barclays Premiership tussle with Charlton Athletic, O’Shea will thankfully not have to repeat his appearance.
But he is eager to ensure someone will profit from Van der Sar’s mishap.
“I will get the shirt framed and try to raise some money for charity in Ireland with it,” he said.
“Apart from in my younger days, I don’t remember anything like that happening before.
“It was a pretty nerve-wracking experience. As soon as Edwin went down, Gary Neville came over and asked me.
“I said ‘yes’, but then Rio came over to the side and said he had been in goal once before at West Ham and grabbed the shirt.
“In the end, I went in. I knew my Gaelic football skills would come in handy one day.”
Carlos Queiroz has tipped Cristiano Ronaldo for footballing superstardom.
The young Portugal winger scored a penalty during another sensational performance in Manchester United’s 4-0 win at Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.
On current evidence, the 21-year-old is likely to be in the running for a host of Player of the Year awards this season.
Despite reports linking Ronaldo with a move elsewhere, United have repeatedly insisted he is going nowhere, with Queiroz revealing the Red Devils are ready to open contract negotiations with the player, whose present deal does not expire until 2010.
And Queiroz, who helped persuade Ronaldo to remain at United this season following the negative publicity he attracted during the World Cup, is adamant the wide man can have the same huge impact on football as Michael Jordan has done in the basketball world.
“I have seen many players throughout my career but I believe that over the next decade Cristiano Ronaldo will be European football’s equivalent to Michael Jordan in the NBA,” Queiroz told A Bola.
“The kid has a divine talent. I have never seen a player with this level of ability. His technique, physique, athleticism and imagination, and added to this is his attitude in training and matches. He will be a star for the best part of 10 years.”
Meanwhile, John O’Shea intends to donate his unique United goalkeeping shirt to charity.
The Republic of Ireland international spent the final 10 minutes of the win at Tottenham in goal after Robbie Keane accidentally broke Edwin van der Sar’s nose.
To the glee of the United fans, O’Shea managed to keep a clean sheet, too, memorably robbing Keane of possession on one occasion when Rio Ferdinand - who donned the keeper’s shirt himself at one stage - sold him short with a backpass.
With Tomasz Kuszczak lined up to replace Van der Sar in next weekend’s Barclays Premiership tussle with Charlton Athletic, O’Shea will thankfully not have to repeat his appearance.
But he is eager to ensure someone will profit from Van der Sar’s mishap.
“I will get the shirt framed and try to raise some money for charity in Ireland with it,” he said.
“Apart from in my younger days, I don’t remember anything like that happening before.
“It was a pretty nerve-wracking experience. As soon as Edwin went down, Gary Neville came over and asked me.
“I said ‘yes’, but then Rio came over to the side and said he had been in goal once before at West Ham and grabbed the shirt.
“In the end, I went in. I knew my Gaelic football skills would come in handy one day.”
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