Anzhi not aiming for Ronaldo

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Published time: September 10, 2012 09:45
Edited time: September 10, 2012 13:45

Anzhi’s director, Roberto Carlos, says inviting Cristiano Ronaldo to play in Makhachkala wasn’t the reason for his scouting trip to Madrid.

­“A lot of people are asking me: ‘Have you come to sign Cristiano?’” Roberto Carlos told the Spanish La Liga’s official website. “And people think so because of Suleyman [Kerimov], because of everything Anzhi are doing, and because Zenit signed Hulk and the other player (Axel Witsel). Suleyman is on the ball. Cristiano is happy here. And we’re thinking more about next season, looking for top level players.”

Cristiano Ronaldo recently said he’s unhappy at Real Madrid and wants a change of club, with Russia’s richest side, Anzhi, is being mentioned by locals among the possible options for the 27-year-old.

The Portuguese even refused to celebrate the goals he scores for the Los Blancos to make his position more clear.   

“He doesn’t want to celebrate his goals, but those of us, who watch his games at home, we do celebrate them,” Anzhi’s director stressed. "He shouldn’t worry. People love him a lot. He should just carry on the way he is. There’s nothing wrong. Problems get sorted out in the end. And Cristiano is a wonderful player.”

“For me, [Lionel] Messi is different, but Cristiano Ronaldo is No.1 for Real Madrid and for world football,” he added.

Roberto Carlos has warm relations with Real’s administration as the Brazilian spent 11 years in Madrid as a player, winning the Spanish league four times and three Champions League titles.

Anzhi have already acquired one of Real’s players this summer, with French international, Lassana Diarra, moving to the Russian Republic of Dagestan on a four-year deal.

Roberto Carlos (RIA Novosti/Vitaliy Belousov)