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EXCLUSIVE: Fergie claims victory in Ronaldo stand-off
SIR Alex Ferguson has privately told his closest associates he is “confident” he has won the battle for the heart and mind of Cristiano Ronaldo.
And as he did so, Chelsea moved to secure Luiz Felipe Scolari’s first signing with the arrival of £8million Deco from Barcelona.
Ferguson yesterday returned to work to prepare for the new season, letting it be known – albeit privately – that Ronaldo stays at Manchester United.
This would be the biggest success of Ferguson’s long and illustrious career in terms of his dressing-room dealings to win over a player.
It would probably surpass his personal crusade to persuade Eric Cantona not to quit after his infamous kung-fu kick and subsequent suspension 13 years ago.
Ronaldo made up his mind before the Champions League final to defect to Real Madrid and it looked almost impossible for United to force him to stay against his will.
But now, somehow, Ferguson believes he has succeeded, mainly by refusing point-blank to be blackmailed into selling but also by enlisting the unqualified support of the Glazer family, who own United.
Deco, who is a European Cup winner with both Porto and Barcelona, has signed a two-year deal at Chelsea.