Real Madrid STILL wants Cristiano Ronaldo

You read it, the ''Cristiano Ronaldo Saga'' continues.

While the brand new 2008-09 English Premier League season inches closer and closer each day, Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo remains to be the focus of the football world.

Why? Two reasons. One, there's thing thing about Cristiano Ronaldo missing the first month of the coming English football season as he continues to recover from his severe ankle injury. Two, there's also this thing about him moving from Old Trafford to join Real Madrid in the Spanish league.

Real Madrid is the defending Spanish champion and if they do manage to land the Portugese footballer for the coming 2008-09 Spanish Primera Liga, another title for the Spanish football giants is very VERY likely.

If Ronaldo leaves Old Trafford, it would be hard for the Manchester United Red Devils to continue the success they had on the pitch the last couple of years. And yeah, the entire world of English football will never be the same again.

For now, Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon says it's up to Ronaldo if he wants to join their team or stay with Man-U. He also said that if Ronaldo wants to leave Old Trafford, it would be hard for Man-U to keep him.

''It depends on the player, on Ronaldo. Since I've known football it has been the case that the desires of the footballer are what decide matters,'' Ramon Calderon said. ''If Ronaldo wants to leave Manchester, he'll leave. If he wants to stay, he'll stay.''

''I don't think you can keep anyone in a place where they don't want to be, not even in a family. But I insist that for a formal negotiation to start Manchester United will have to open their doors to us.''

''Manchester have to want to talk.''

Making Manchester United talk about even the idea of Cristiano Ronaldo leaving is easier said than done. He is the best thing that has ever happened to them since David Beckham was taken away from them by (surprise, surprise...) Real Madrid.

Man-U will keep on delaying the inevitable as much as they can. You can bet on that.

Can Manchester United defend their title and win the 2008-09 English Premiership? Bodog sportsbook has the odds.

Manchester United 2.40

Chelsea FC 2.75

Arsenal 5.50

Liverpool 7.00

Want more odds? Visit Bodog for more international football odds and the best betting lines on some of today's biggest sporting events.

Real Madrid Cristiano Ronaldo