Sick of All the Attention Milan’s Ronaldo is Getting, Inter Shop for One of Their Own. Sort Of.

By: Martha | February 19th, 2007

No idea what is going on here. Given the current impasse over Cristiano Ronaldo’s Man United contract, press everywhere are in a frenzy over the possibility The Pretty One might leave the club. Not only do reporters get to spin elaborate fantasies about Ronaldo’s possible destination, but each journalist now also has a new question to ask every single person associated with every major team on earth, and answers to spin.

So, two of the people asked over the weekend for their feelings on Ronaldo were Inter’s Roberto Mancini and Massimo Moratti. Though I can’t find the quote anywhere (which is a bit suspicious), Mancini, not being blind or a moron, said something positive about the boy, suggesting that he’d like to see him dressed in black and blue. Needless to say, the press took his quote and ran breathlessly to “Dr.” Moratti to confirm the club’s interest. Despite sourceless reports that he is preparing a bid of nearly £35 million for the Portuguese, Moratti said it was unlikely at best: “Roberto is Mancini thinking about Cristiano Ronaldo? The subject interests me, we are talking about an exceptional player. However, he is a Manchester United player and it would be very difficult to sign him. Plus I don’t think it is an absolute necessity for us.”

To most sane people, that sounds like a denial. Right? Ah, but that’s why we’re not journalists — press around the world have taken Moratti’s verbal wet blanket and turned it into headlines that say things like “Moratti’s dream is Cristiano Ronaldo” and “Moratti Joins Ronaldo Chase.” The fact that these articles contain exactly the same quotes as those bearing running under headlines like “Inter rule out bid for Ronaldo” and “Moratti rules out Ronaldo bid” makes abundantly clear the hilarious awesomeness of football rumors. Basically, if you open your mouth, someone will turn it into a story. A call out for lunch turns into “Moratti hungry for Ronaldo!”, while a new secretary becomes “Cleaning House at Roma: Is Spalletti Next?”

Basicall, no one should talk. Ever.