PHIL SCOLARI declared war on Alex Ferguson by telling him: I want to sign Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Chelsea chief’s revelation lit the fuse for tomorrow’s big Battle of the Bridge with Fergie’s Manchester United.

Big Phil, Ronaldo’s Portugal boss before taking over the Blues, said: “Maybe next season, Cristiano is with me. Tell him if he wants to change, I’ll open the door for him.â€

Scolari’s comments on the eve of the title rivals’ epic clash are certain to infuriate Fergie.

The pair have been at loggerheads all week after the Scot (below) claimed the FA favoured the Londoners by overturning John Terry’s red card at Manchester City. He can now face United tomorrow.

But Big Phil hit back — and showed he can play mind games too — with his comments about Ron.

Despite appearing to be tongue-in-cheek, there is no doubt Scolari would jump at the chance to sign the winger.

It is not the first time the two managers have crossed swords over Ronaldo. When Scolari was Ron’s Portugal manager at Euro 2008, he told the winger to follow his heart and seal a controversial switch to boyhood idols Real Madrid.

Ronaldo is set to make his first start of the season for United tomorrow after recovering from ankle surgery.

Scolari added: “He will leave United one day because he won’t play for 50 years.

“If he goes to another club, whether in one year or two years, I don’t know. He’s my friend. I like him as a father likes his son. But his life is his life.

“When I arrived in Portugal, Ronaldo was a kid. A young boy of 17.

“At that time, he had a good character. He was starting as a very good professional, but at that time he was already thinking about his future.

“He’s improved himself, very well, in the five or six years since. More in Manchester than with the national team.

Advertisement

“He lives in Manchester 11 months of the year and spends only one month a year with the national team.

“I’ve seen him improve. Next season, I can see him as a captain with Portugal. He’s a very good man, helps the other players, a good attitude on and off the pitch.

“Ronaldo, has grown up, matured. Now, at this time of life, Ronaldo is mature and is better than one or two years ago.

“Now he is one of the three best players in the world. I said that two years ago, and I repeat it now. I never said he was the best, and I won’t now.

“I have some players here who are fantastic, and I’d never say they are the best. He is one of three, one of five, one of 10.â€

Source

Source

Source

Oh dear - and there we were just thinking that maybe we had a manager that didn't get involved in this silly games.

Good man Phil :D

Muhuhahaha, Big Phil knows what he's doing...:D

To be fair, it's not exactly a massive statement of intent, more like "if he's available and he wants to join me then I might be interested":

Now these three players are with me, it's good for me - maybe Cristiano Ronaldo is with me next season.

If he wants to change, I'll open the door to that.

The journo(s) probably asked him if he'd like to sign Ronaldo, I doubt he just "declared" it out of the blue(no pun intended).

I think it's just a bit of mind games before the big match. He obviously wouldn't say no to Ronaldo if he wanted to sign for us (I don't think anyone would say no), but it was just him playing with Fergie's head.

lol, he was just kidding.

lol, he was just kidding.

Exactly - don't make anything more out of it. It was an innocent joke. Besides, it would never happen and I think I am not alone in it NOT wanting to happen

Exactly - don't make anything more out of it. It was an innocent joke. Besides, it would never happen and I think I am not alone in it NOT wanting to happen

I agree. I was ashamed enough at Ashley Cole throwing himself around on the floor today, I don't want a professional cheat in the side as well...

Really, I think Ashley has made a great road toward developing as an attacking full back. He doesn't fall about nearly as much as in the past, and doesn't complain to the ref as much. For once, he's mainly letting his football do the talking

Really, I think Ashley has made a great road toward developing as an attacking full back. He doesn't fall about nearly as much as in the past, and doesn't complain to the ref as much. For once, he's mainly letting his football do the talking

I know, I love the guy and he's a great left-back, but when he dived against Hargreaves today, and then acted like he'd been cheated out of a marriage, I wasn't best pleased...