The News of the World is reporting today that Newcastle United have made an inquiry about World Player of the Year Ronaldinho.
Since Newcastle have been doing quite a bit of negotiating with Barcelona for players Edmilson, Gudjohnsen and perhaps Deco – it’s not totally surprising Newcastle may have asked about Ronaldinho.
But we need to build our squad up first and seek European qualification – before we look to sign these types of world class players – which we will need to eventually to make Newcastle into a top European side – which is owner Mike Ashley’s goal.
Ronaldinho
English Billionaire and Newcastle owner Mike Ashley was told Ronaldinho would cost around £58M if he wanted to follow up his interest in the Brazilian superstar. If Liverpool value Fernando Torres at £27M and youngster Ryan Babel at around £11M (we think those players are not good value for the money – although they are good players) then we suppose that’s a reasonable price for Ronaldinho.
A Newcastle source told the News of the World:
“During the discussions Ronaldinho’s name came up.”
“Newcastle asked about his availability but were told Barcelona would not consider anything less than £58m.”
“Obviously Mike Ashley is a billionaire but it remains to be seen whether even he would sanction a deal of that magnitude.”
Ashley has been reported to want to bring a global superstar to Newcastle to signal his intent to turn Newcastle into a global football brand and European powerhouse – following his £130m takeover of the club. There’s nothing wrong with that but let’s concentrate on Newcastle’s inadequacies first – like our defense and get a solid season in next year to at least qualify for Europe.
Next summer will be the time to step up our search for world class players – once we can offer them at least European football. We think it’s just too early to be thinking of the Ronaldinhos of the football world. Even if Newcastle paid the Brazilian £200K/week there’s not too much more to offer him at Newcastle right now – certainly not the weather he is used to in sunny Spain. 
No – we think Newcastle should continue with Sam Allardyce’s careful acquisition of experienced and productive players who just happen to be available for low prices in the current market. That’s because Sam has already done his homework on who would be available in the summer and we suppose if he was still at Bolton some of the players already signed by Sam would now be at Bolton. Allardyce will bring in at least four defenders to shore up Newcastle’s ailing defense which should be a much tighter outfit next season.
As Newcastle have found out in the past high transfer fees for players does not guarantee the player is good – and this smacks a little of the way Newcastle operated in the past – bring in a superstar when other inadequacies in the team were plain to see. The attempted acquisition a few years ago of Wayne Rooney comes to mind – when our defense at that time was just terrible (and still was last season).
First things first – let’s put a solid squad together first, qualify for Europe and then go after some world class players next summer. Maybe Sam doesn’t need Ashley’s money this summer – so why spend it just because it’s available.
We don’t expect this view to be held by all Newcastle fans – so let’s hear your comments.
60 responses so far ↓
1 ToTT'er // Jul 15, 2007 at 8:59 AM
The fact that you believe this piece of shit of a story is embarrassing and giving it creedance by writing about it is ridiculous.
2 Benoz // Jul 15, 2007 at 9:02 AM
Absolutely bang on – £58m for one player? (who we don’t really need anyway.) Let’s start winning first!
3 Lee Smith // Jul 15, 2007 at 9:02 AM
Signing Rono seems a little silly to me and i cant see it going ahead.Yeah , i suppose it would be exciting if it happened and if mike does,nt mind spendin that kind of money….Like i said..Naaa
4 Oleg // Jul 15, 2007 at 9:06 AM
Emm… I think not !
another player for the front? let’s invest in some D !!!
a world class player is great (most of the time), but why not put the two together?
lets bring a world class defender. I am sure that there is at least one in England, Spain, Italy (and there is some good quality defenders who played in the Copa America too). So why not? mike Ashley Thinks like a billionare, thats good, but 58M ??? we can by a whole army of defenders with that kind of money (right?).
5 Beastie // Jul 15, 2007 at 9:10 AM
dont get me wrong ron a toon player marvellous but for 58 million we could buy a new team or at least 3 or 4 top players with that money!!!
6 SuperShearer // Jul 15, 2007 at 9:14 AM
I can understand Ashley wanting to make an impact on the market but spending that much on one player is a waste of resources. I think we do need a true play maker but Ronaldinho is out of our league at the moment. Would love to see one big name in this summer but someone like Deco, who Barca, appear to be ready to allow to leave, is a much better option for us. Great idea Mike but let the football professionals do the football thinking, you just worry about running the business side of things. The Futures Bright, The Futures Black and White.
7 Kevin // Jul 15, 2007 at 9:19 AM
i Heard newcastle aswell are looking at a striker called Lambert and he is worth around 60mil.. was in the new york times yesturday
8 Ed Harrison // Jul 15, 2007 at 9:23 AM
SuperShearer – i think that may be possible – a very good play-maker like Deco – but not for out of this world money – like Liverpool seem happy to pay out. It’s would be interesting to hear what Sam thinks of some of these outlandish fees.
9 Sean // Jul 15, 2007 at 9:31 AM
You posted a report on 1st June which said that we would still have about £25M once we have signed ALL the players that big sam wanted. With this money you said that we would be looking at players like Tevez, Villa and Torres – With Tevez going to Man U and Torres at liverpool why aren’t we pursuing Villa? In that same report it also said that we would be looking at Jorge Andrade and Fabricio Coloccini, So whats happened to all the speculation? And is there any more transfer updates on edmilson gudjohnsen and deco?
10 ross // Jul 15, 2007 at 9:31 AM
Not being funny here but it was reported in News of The World. I dont believe it for one second.
11 Sean // Jul 15, 2007 at 9:33 AM
Kevin – Who does Lambert play for? Coz i think i would have heard of him if he is worth £60M
12 steve // Jul 15, 2007 at 9:33 AM
…this story is not true. if there was an inquiry it was probably a cheeky one.
13 Graham // Jul 15, 2007 at 9:35 AM
We have as much chance of signing ronaldhinho either now or in the future as i have of becoming the next newcastle manager. Wake up people – with all due respect, i was in Barcelona this time last week and the only place players like that would ever consider going is to a major capital city (and not even London comes close). We may get the chance of p[layers like that in there last couple of years but not in their prime. Hes too good looking to down the Bigg Market anyway!
14 Ed Harrison // Jul 15, 2007 at 9:45 AM
Sean – good points and good questions. Think the first thing is to bring in the additional 4 players Sam wants. It does look like Queudrue and Fanni may be coming – although cannot be certain – but both are full backs and Sam wants two of them plus an additional center-back. He tried for Beye but he wants to stay at Marseilles. As far as Villa goes – don’t think we need him next season – if we can keep Martins. We like Coloccini a lot – but there has been no interest seemingly from Sam. As far as center-back we think that Edmilson will sign on Jan 1st – there’s also reported interest in Brede Hangeland of Copenhagen. Not too sure about Gudjohnsen but there has obviously been – and probably ongoing discussions with Barcelona on this – not sure exactly what the hold up is. Think we also have a chance with Deco – he’s much more realistic chance for us than Ronaldinho – which i think is there to sell NOTW papers today.
As for the 25M – if Sam wanted to buy someone for that amount and Chris Mort thought he would be good buy and we could get him – I’m sure they’d give the go ahead to Sam – not sure who that player would be right now.
15 Sean // Jul 15, 2007 at 9:46 AM
We shouldn’t be looking at ronaldinho, lets be realistic. We should sign: Dimitri Payet (some call him the next Christiano Ronaldo)
Samir Nasri (some call him the next Zinedine Zidane)
Edmilson
Baines
Fanni
Quedrue
Villa ( if not gudjohnsen or Alan Smith)
16 Ron Manager // Jul 15, 2007 at 9:48 AM
If we sell Oba to Arsenal, we are going to need another striker or two as Shola is mediocre at best, Owen is always getting crocked and Viduka is no spring chicken. C’mon Sam, let’s splash the cash, any thoughts as to his top three targets in this department?
Ron
17 Sean // Jul 15, 2007 at 9:50 AM
Ed Harrison – Thanks for that. Have you heard of Payet or Nasri? Nasri was the french leagues young player of the year and Marseilles player of the year last season
. As for Payet he is just brilliant he is strong, fast, skillful and can play on either wing.
18 Michael // Jul 15, 2007 at 9:53 AM
Why even bother writing an article about some BS story thats been written in the News of the Worlds Gossip section? Its embarrassing. Even justifying it with your time is why were laughed at by other fans. Some people need to get a grip on reality.
19 michael // Jul 15, 2007 at 9:59 AM
It would totally shift the goalposts for big sam. Imagine for one minute we actually did sign Ronny. Newcastle suddenly become a “big” club in the eyes of most footballers in the world. Sam then has his pick, (Unlikely to get snubbed by the likes of habib beye.) He then has to put a squad together in the remaining month of the window capable of challenging for CL (UEFA cup won’t satisfy these sort of players.) That’s not easy. At the very least he would need to be in the top six going into the Jan market, to stand a chance.
His task becomes much more difficult. Then again that’s what we want, and none of the top four are going to roll over and give us their spot are they?
Would we be subjecting him to geordie over expectation, or is it just the sort of ambition required to be winners? Why not go the whole hog whilst Ashley is keen, he’s got much more in terms of resources than Ken Bates at leeds. Go on Mike be a hero. (P.S. lets face it though, it’s just a lie from NOTW just Raul and Deco!)
20 Ed Harrison // Jul 15, 2007 at 10:04 AM
Sean – yes – we’ve heard of both of them – we did run a piece on Payet at the end of May – but nothing specifically on Nasri….yet – and unless Newcastle show some interest.
http://nufcblog.com/newcastle-chase-whiz-kid-dimitri-payet/
21 Sean // Jul 15, 2007 at 10:07 AM
so are we going to put a bid in for payet?
22 Ed Harrison // Jul 15, 2007 at 10:08 AM
ToTT’er – i think if you read what we say we don’t believe the report – although Newcastle may have casually asked about him – as Steve points out above. We don’t think it would be a good move by Newcastle at all. Sam could buy 3 teams for 58M
What we do on this web-site is report on the Newcastle news and say what we think from a Newcastle perspective – that’s all we’ve done above. We also invite comment from the fans on the stories – which I guess is what you’ve also done above.
23 Tony_D // Jul 15, 2007 at 10:08 AM
**IF** Ashley wants to spend that kind of money I don’t think it would be totally unrealistic to sign a play of world class quality.
If we did make an offer and He was then given permission to talk to us it would also send a signal to him that his club would sell him.
What better way for a player to prove how good they are than to play for what is currently a mid table team and turn them into champions.
24 Ed Harrison // Jul 15, 2007 at 10:11 AM
Sean – i have no idea – Sam’s the one who’s getting 3M/year to make those decisions – but there was reported interest from Newcastle in May when we ran the Payet story – but nothing since – should I give Sam a call?
25 Kevin // Jul 15, 2007 at 10:13 AM
all the paper said was reports of newcastle united in talks with a player named Lambert, the club today values him at 60mil, he stays out of the media hype and plays his football, the reason why the club value him so high is because of his skill level aged 23.
it also goes on to say beckam should take a leave out of lamberts book in regards to the media. and im still trying to find out the club he plays for…
26 Kevin // Jul 15, 2007 at 10:14 AM
he was a trainee for real madrid , didnt last long there ??? and played for barca under 18’s.. but no idea who he plays for now???
27 valle // Jul 15, 2007 at 10:16 AM
Well, if we are to make a statement to all the good players and the rest of the football world out there, then i cant think of a better player for the job. He is THE top footballer and would put allot of the transfer money spent right back into the coffers from merchandise alone. However i do agree that what we need first is a top defense, but who’s to say we cant get both?… When all that is said, i think it is wishful thinking, and i cant see it happening in the near future. But here’s for hoping.
28 Kevin // Jul 15, 2007 at 10:25 AM
and is english
29 Jon c // Jul 15, 2007 at 10:42 AM
Never heard so much rubbish as a 60 million pound player nobody has ever heard of called Lambert. If this story ever appeared in the New York Times it would be typical of the Yanks to spell Lampard in that manner.
As for Ronny. No harm at all in asking the question. Intent is there after a couple of weeks ago being told that we have 50 mil to spend this season. It is so obvious that we need RB LB and CB and we can more than live after that. Fanni and Queudrue appear close to signing so why arent we looking at Campbell now that he is off again ? Keeping our money for when Ronny will want to come here.
30 gordon // Jul 15, 2007 at 10:49 AM
I thought a trotter was a pigs hand.If newcastle were inquring about ronaldihno it tells us 1 thing.There are megabucks to be spent instead of free transfers like BOLTON are persuing.
31 Arron // Jul 15, 2007 at 10:51 AM
it would be great if we did sigh ron 4 58 mil i reackon that we eill get back that money within a year because of shirt sales etc
32 Jon c // Jul 15, 2007 at 10:53 AM
And having just searched NYT “Newcastle” havent appeared in their paper since March. “Lambert” hasnt appeared in the sports section but does wonderful abstract art. “Lampard” last appeared in May and “60 million” last appears in the sports section on July 1st for a baseball player.
Please try to keep rumours somewhere near the truth or have some form of authenticity like the News of the World !
33 Ben // Jul 15, 2007 at 11:06 AM
you remember when west ham last year [on deadline day i think] signed mascherano + tevez and everyone asked with there squad from last year and these 2 superstars they all asked if the could challenge for the title….then looked what happened!!!!
34 albert mooney // Jul 15, 2007 at 11:09 AM
mike ashley will want to show his intent buy buying a world class players.if you are talking 60 million just think what you could buy for the positions we need to supply potentially the best forward line in the premiership ie 2 wingers and a creative midfielder can anyone match quaresma,david villa and deco. a couple of big ugly uncomprimising defenders will have us challenging for the title
35 albert // Jul 15, 2007 at 11:17 AM
do you think the arrival of teves will signal the departure of wayne rooney. i cannot see them playing in the same team and it is fair to say that rooney has gone off the boil in recent times. is this the kind of signing mike has planned to shock the football world. sam has a fantastic relationship with ferguson. ryan giggs might also fancy a new challenge in the face of arrival of nanni.
36 big pea ov the weab // Jul 15, 2007 at 11:36 AM
yet gain the news ov the world spouting shit again wen will they learn
37 Fergie // Jul 15, 2007 at 11:41 AM
My sources tell me that last week Alan Oliver was sounded out about a possible transfer to News of the World in what is the worst kept secret in football and I can confirm that he did actually sign for them yesterday, before attending training last night…
38 Pierre // Jul 15, 2007 at 11:51 AM
I know we lacking defensively, we are also lacking in quality, pace and creativity. So if we are going to pay out £58 Million, I would rather try to by the following:-
Pace- Aaron Lennon (Milner and Lennon work well together and switch well).
Quality – Eidur Gudjohnsen
Creativity – Riquelme/Deco (have seen all the discussions on these too)
Defense Quailty Micah Richards, Canavarro and Lahm
Lets think big. We might not be in Europe this year and I am only dreaming. But why not, we could win the League with these.
39 Craig Futers // Jul 15, 2007 at 12:01 PM
I thought with the new manager/new board Newcastle United would have grown out of this sort of stupid thing. That is, if this story has ANY truth in it, which we doubt. Everyone and theyre f*&^%ng granny knows we need a RB, LB and proven CB.
40 Terry // Jul 15, 2007 at 12:09 PM
Ronaldinho – fantastic player but for £58 mil and the wages he would want… actually until we play in europe we have no chance.
If the Deco move doesn’t happen then why has no-one gone after Juan Roman Riquelme, he is not wanted at his club – Boca had him on loan but can’t afford to keep him!! In fact I would rather have him than Deco. The goals he would create and score would be the push we need to be a top team.
Get Juan Roman Riquelme – and then make sure we move for these defenders.
41 Ed Harrison // Jul 15, 2007 at 12:55 PM
Fergie
42 Joe // Jul 15, 2007 at 1:14 PM
I knew this would be from the news of the world before I even read it.
Good idea to make a impact on the footballing world. However we should be more realistic. We should look to sign, Villa maybe he would be available for around 20-25 mill (personally I think we could sign him as he will probably want to try the premier league at a younger age as he has seen so many spanish failures) , Nasri, Gudjohnsen, Bridge/Baines, Beye and Edmilson. Lastly why keep looking for midfielders! we have enough of them maybe one more yes, it’s defence we should be looking for more than anything one more striker aswell and we will be sorted. Defence main priority though please BS.
43 Rob // Jul 15, 2007 at 1:27 PM
Why does everyone go on about the defence being so poor, sure it’s not the best, but if you look at goals conceded we were I think 7 or 8th best last year.
44 Adam // Jul 15, 2007 at 1:48 PM
I’d rather we just put in a decent offer for Gudjohnsen if Martins goes…not a measly 4.5 million offer. And then maybe look at some of the best young players around…maybe a couple of the world’s most promising 18 or 19 year-old’s as Man Utd have done…
45 Cockney Magpie // Jul 15, 2007 at 1:51 PM
well take a look at this lads! http://www.teamtalk.com/football/story/0,16368,1780_2500327,00.html
46 Cockney Magpie // Jul 15, 2007 at 1:52 PM
finally being linked with somebody we need!
47 michael // Jul 15, 2007 at 2:28 PM
i was going to suggest him earlier… as a joke. no way he’ll come to us. sorts out the captain dilemma. hard luck steven taylor
48 Ed Harrison // Jul 15, 2007 at 4:23 PM
we could do with one or two outstanding youngsters that Sam could bring in – kibd of for the future as they develop. Dimitri Payet is one we like. He just turned 20 at the end of March. Plays for the French Under 21s and of course FC Nantes.
49 Big Sam Fan // Jul 15, 2007 at 4:29 PM
http://www.fcbarcelonablog.com/fcbarcelonablog/fcbarcelonablog.php/2007/07/15/outrageous_newcastle_united_billionaire
Clearly i dont think this will happen until we get the team sorted and in CL. when we are a force then we can go for this type of player. I personally think that £58 mill would be better spent buying outstanding quality in the defence and linking our club with good teams in brazil, argentina,Italy and Spain!!
50 Rob Kirton // Jul 15, 2007 at 5:08 PM
I wouldn’t be at all surprised if Mr Ashley was hell bent on NUFC signing one or two “shirt hangers” for the club. For example if he wished to position one of his brands, for arguments sake, say Slazenger as a football brand I’d do two things
a) Ensure NUFC play in the Slazenger kit as soon as possible
b) Have a world superstar or two promote the brand on a global basis, better agin if they play for your team (double bubble)
It may seem strange to say this right now, however look how Nike launched iteself in the football world on the back of Renaldo and co. and into the field of Golf with Tiger Woods
Looking at the big picture with Ashley and the sports brands he owns, I wouldn’t be totally surpised if we have made an enquiry about Ronaldinho.
Ashley is not investing in Newcastle fo rthe love of the club. He’ll be looking at the big picture with respect to global sporting brands.
51 simen // Jul 15, 2007 at 7:02 PM
why not sign a world class defender instead? what about daniel alves!?
52 michael // Jul 15, 2007 at 7:52 PM
just you tubed nasri and payet. although they’re are both undoubtedly better footballers than i am (and my second name isn’t owen) i’m not convinced due to the lack of goals on their showreels. You tube is littered with videos from agents trying to promote their players, and these aren’t particularly special.
However Nasri is easily the more impressive of the two, but far from the finished article. If he’s not 20 yet he’s worth a sizeable chunk of dough. Remember christiano ronaldo was 14million quid at that age, and he was in no way a finished article.
Don’t rate Payet at all.
53 AB // Jul 15, 2007 at 8:17 PM
Why are we wasting time discussing this drivel? NOTW putting 1 + 1 together (Ashley+Big name and us speaking to Barca) and getting £58M.
54 will // Jul 15, 2007 at 10:17 PM
Ronaldinho would be perfect for us right now. He is generally regarded as the best player in the world, so why not?
“As Newcastle have found out in the past high transfer fees for players does not guarantee the player is good”
Not in this case my friends…
55 nightfall // Jul 16, 2007 at 10:54 AM
there’s no way i’d sign him…he thinks he’s god…he has a special status at barca and he spends less time training, etc….and that’s not good for the team… he is talented, and with him on board many great players would follow him, but such behavour…not acceptable…
56 Chris // Jul 16, 2007 at 11:15 AM
What a load of bullshi*! The journos have obviously got nowt else to talk about.
57 Dave // Jul 16, 2007 at 12:29 PM
Bonkers – we’re more likely to get Darth Vader on free. Feeeel your anger.
58 C DAWSON // Jul 16, 2007 at 2:47 PM
RONALDINHO ? I THINK WERE GETTING AHEAD OF OURSELVES THERE, AT THE MOMENT THERES NOTHING THAT COULD INTREST HIM AT THE TOON.
WE HAVE NO EUROPEAN FOOTBALL TO OFFER HIM. ATLEAST WHEN I HEAR SOMETHING LIKE THIS I NO MIKE ASHLEY IS WILLING TO RISK A HELL OF ALOT FOR THE CLUB, HIM AND BIG SAM ARE THE BEGINING OF BRILLIANT TIMES FOR THE TOON.
59 shearer hall 79 // Jul 17, 2007 at 7:00 PM
i think wee need 2 sort out our defence first, we got geremi, s taylor and roznal (who could b shit) and now we need a left bak. next season if we qualify 4 tha UEFA is wen we shud start bringin in rons nd deco etc, so sort out our def dis season, bring in a soldid defender or 2, our atak nd midfield r sorted, so les win the UEFA cup and nex season bring in the big gunzzz…… BRAP TOON ARMY!!!!!!!
60 footy steve // Aug 4, 2007 at 2:46 PM
Ronaldinho would simply outclass newcastle united. His style of football is completely different and i dont think he would fit in. The only thing he would bring at this time would be over rated excitement from the fans and would not deliver any results.
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