MU 5 : 1 Newcastle, 2R both scored twice

Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo both scored twice as Manchester United closed to within three points of Arsenal at the top of the English Premier League (EPL) with a 5-1 win at Newcastle United.

Arsenal endured a doubly bad Saturday as they were held to a 2-2 draw at Birmingham City, with striker Eduardo breaking his leg after a tackle that manager Arsene Wenger called 'horrendous'.

Fernando Torres scored his first Premier League hat-trick as Liverpool beat Middlesbrough 3-2 to move up to fourth, while Portsmouth, West Ham United and Wigan Athletic also claimed victories.

The home side actually began well but Ronaldo set up Rooney for a simple finish on 25 minutes and the Portugal forward doubled the lead a minute before half-time.

With Newcastle's defence all over the place, Ronaldo rounded the goalkeeper for the third (55) and though Abdoulaye Faye bundled in a goal for the Magpies (77), Rooney curled in a superb fourth (79) and Louis Saha scored a fifth in injury time.

MU 1:1 Lyon, CR victim of 'laser attack'

Manchester United have complained to Uefa after winger Cristiano Ronaldo was dazzled by a laser beam ahead of their Champions League match at Lyon.

The incident occurred in the warm-up before the last-16 first leg tie but Ronaldo showed no ill effects during United's 1-1 draw in France.

"We reported the matter to Uefa before the game," said Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

"We noticed it in the warm-up and they (Uefa) are aware of it."

The BBC's Conor McNamara said Ronaldo was back in the team after a virus and had a quiet game by his standards.

Regarding the laser incident McNamara said: "Manchester United complained to Uefa before kick-off and they (Uefa) may now check TV footage for evidence of repeated use of laser pens during the game itself."

Carlos Tevez's late goal ensured United head to Old Trafford on level terms after Karim Benzema had given the hosts the lead.

United were stunned after the break when the 20-year-old striker turned on the edge of the area and fired a rasping drive into Edwin van der Sar's left corner for his 24th goal of the season.

Late in the game however, Ronaldo had a vicious free-kick tipped over the bar and Tevez struck after Lyon made a hash of the resulting corner.

Text-mad gets Fined £8k

MANCHESTER United star CRISTIANO RONALDO was fined £8,000 in one day by boss SIR ALEX FERGUSON — for using his mobile phone during training.

The Portuguese winger, 23, — who is about to sign a new £140,000-A-WEEK contract — was slapped with the bumper cash fine by tough Scot Fergie.

He was caught texting FOUR times during a single session at the club’s Carrington complex.

Strict Fergie, 66, is tightening the screw on players who are not completely focused during the club’s midweek preparation.

And he has been hitting his stars in the pocket with on-the-spot £2,000 penalties for every offence.

A United source said: “The players all respect Sir Alex’s discipline. He is not a man to be messed with.

“But a few of the players have been sneaking their mobile phones on to the training pitch to send the odd text message between sessions.

“Fergie and his assistants have been cracking down on it big time recently. They insist that mobiles stay in lockers and should not be used until training is finished.”

Carrington training ground had a sophisticated internal communication system fitted last summer.

The idea of the technology was to allow players to be contacted by a pager from the front desk reception if someone needed to get hold of them urgently.

Sir Alex also implemented a ban of mobiles on the Manchester United team bus this season.

He has even been known to frown upon his players making calls during team train journeys from Macclesfield, Cheshire, to their Premier League fixtures in London.

Adebayor Hails 'Amazing' Ronaldo

Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor has spoken of his admiration for Golden-Boot rival Cristiano Ronaldo ahead of Saturday's FA Cup clash with Manchester United.

Adebayor and Ronaldo are neck-and-neck at the top of the Premier League goalscoring charts on 19 goals each, and the Gunners frontman admits it would be a great feat to eclipse the United sensation.

"He is a player I like to watch," Adebayor told the club's official website.

"He has a lot of quality and watching him is like watching something else, it is like playing on the PlayStation sometimes.

"He is an amazing footballer and I show him a lot of respect for what he has done this season. There are not a lot of players, especially midfielders who can achieve what he has achieved."

Speed King

Everyone knows that Cristiano Ronaldo is rapid and that Andrew Johnson's pretty fly for a white guy, but just who is the the fastest footballer in the Premier League?

No it's not pixie pacemen Aaron Lennon or Shaun Writh-Phillips - amazingly both of them are slower than Sunderland's big man, Kenwyne Jones, who is fourth fastest.

Less surprisingly the Premier League's speed king is Manchester United's Ronaldo, who has been clocked racing to the ball at 20.9mph and run with the ball - obviously, not dribble, but more of a kick and chase - 0.1mph faster.

The sprint parade top 10, put together by Opta Sportsdata, is as follows (the first figure is to the ball, the second with it):

1. Cristiano Ronaldo (Man Utd): 20.9mph -- 20.8mph
2. Andrew Johnson (Everton): 20.6 -- 20.7
3. Fernando Torres (Liverpool): 20.5 -- 20.6
4. Kenwyne Jones (Sunderland): 20.7 -- 20.2
5. Ashley Young (Aston Villa): 20.4 -- 20.3
6. Aaron Lennon (Tottenham): 20.6 -- 19.6
7. Cameron Jerome (Birmingham): 20.3 -- 20.1
8. Shaun Wright-Phillips (Chelsea): 18.9 -- 21.2
9. Jermain Defoe (Portsmouth): 20.4 -- 19.2
10. David Bentley (Blackburn): 20.0 -- 19.8

MU 1 : 2 M.City

Michael Carrick's late goal was not enough to make up the first-half advantage Darius Vassell and Benjani Mwaruwari gave to Manchester City, as the Reds face up to a second derby defeat of the season......More

Cris gets his third "Player of the Month' award

On the eve of the Manchester derby, Sir Alex Ferguson scooped his 20th Barclays Manager of the Month award, while Cristiano Ronaldo was recognised as the league's star man for January.

The Reds made a flying start to 2008, registering four league wins and two cup victories in January. Along the way, Sir Alex's men scored 16 goals and conceded just one.

Key to the United's success was Cristiano Ronaldo, who continued his remarkable scoring run. A goal against Aston Villa in the FA Cup preceded his first hat-trick in English football against Newcastle United. The 23-year-old then scored his 11th goal in seven games when his late strike saw off a plucky Reading effort at the Madejski Stadium, before his double against Pompey had everyone gushing.

“No goalkeeper in the world could have saved it,” beamed Sir Alex after the Portuguese winger's dipping, swerving free-kick. David James didn’t even try. In fact, he could only shrug his shoulders at Ronaldo’s near-baffling brilliance.

Ronaldo’s rich vein of form has taken his Barclays Premier League tally to 19 for the season and sees him leading the race for the Golden Boot award. The Barclays Player of the Month honour is just the latest recognition of his talent, and the third time he's picked up the award (he also landed trophies in November and December 2006).

Sir Alex last won the Manager of the Month accolade in February 2007.

I don't want to be an actor or model

Cristiano Ronaldo insists he has no ambitions to be an actor or a model.

The Manchester United star insists football will remain his priority: "They say that I have style and it is true that I worry a little about taking care of my image, but I am not Brad Pitt. My profession is to play football, not to be an actor.

"My teammates joke with me, they say I take too long getting ready in the dressing room. They could be right! But I like to take care of my style, because that is part of my personality.

"But I don't want anyone to be mistaken, I have already said that my desire and my profession is football. I don't want to be a model, either."

Italy Handed Us A Footballing Lesson

Cristiano Ronaldo has admitted that Portugal were taught a footballing lesson during their defeat to Italy last night, while the Portuguese press has also highlighted the Azzurri superiority.

Italy produced an impressive display at the Letzigrund Stadium in Zurich, as goals from Luca Toni, Fabio Cannavaro and Fabio Quagliarella earned them a deserved 3-1 win.

Cristiano Ronaldo, who has been in sensational form in the English Premiership this season was one of the disappointments of the night, as he was marked out of the game by the Italian defence.

“It was an important lesson for us all,” said Ronaldo, who only really threatened with two long-range free-kicks.

The Portuguese press were damning in their verdict of their team’s display, and said they were lucky not to lose by a bigger scoreline.

“Only Ricardo Quaresma saved our honour. A poor performance and another defeat against Italy,” printed A Bola.

Portugal have not beaten Italy for 32 years, with their last victory coming way back in 1976 when Euro 84’ hero Nene scored twice in a 2-1 success.

“Italy exposed Portugal’s fragility,” Record said.

“The world champions gave a lesson in maturity to Scolari’s side. With less possession they dominated, scored three times and missed other chances.”

New contract, New house, New car

CRISTIANO Ronaldo has celebrated becoming the Premier League’s highest-paid star by buying this £4million pad.

The Man Utd winger, 23 today, is set to sign a £44million contract to keep him at Old Trafford until 2014 — earning him £7million A YEAR.

And he has wasted no time moving into the fabulous five-bedroom mansion, which boasts an indoor swimming pool, Jacuzzi, sauna, gym, cinema room and media suite.

Portuguese international Ronaldo, raised in a tin shack on Madeira, paid £3,895,000 for the property, with three floors and majestic countryside views.

The Alderley Edge house is close to team-mate Rio Ferdinand and just two miles from Utd boss Sir Alex Ferguson.

Ronaldo was keen to leave behind the home in Woodford, Cheshire, where he romped with vice girls last year.

A source said: “This new place is absolutely awesome.”

Cristiano Ronaldo has bought a £875k Bugatti Veyron - just days after he invested in a £4m mansion.

The stunning car is one of the most expensive models in the world.

The footie hunk, 22, is said to have fallen in love with the car when it featured in an ad he filmed last year.

Despite splashing out close to £1m on the motor, Cristiano will still have to wait 12 months before getting his hands on it.

'There is a client list which includes some of the wealthiest people in the world but he has to get in line like everyone else,' a source tells The Sun.

Cristiano decided to treat himself to the Bugatti after signing a £44m contract which ties him to Manchester United until 2014.

The deal means he'll be the highest paid star in the Premier League.

Nothing to prove

Cristiano Ronaldo has emphasised his ambition to prove himself on the big stage this season with both club and country...

Ronaldo has been in devastating form this season, scoring at a goal a game and imposing himself game after game during Manchester United's strong first half of the season.

Nevertheless, there have been critics of the Portuguese winger; even UEFA president Michel Platini has insisted that to be considered truly 'great' he must prove himself this summer at the European Championships, or on a similarly grand stage.

Ronaldo insisted he is ready for such challenges, declaring: "I want to play at Euro 2008 as well as I have been playing in the Premier League.

"I will be well prepared for the Championships. I believe that with my motivation level things will go well."

"I have been showing in my club and national team my evolution as a player and as a person.

"I am ready for the big challenges. Tomorrow (as Portugal face Italy in a friendly) will be another one.

"I will try to help Portugal and Manchester (United) reach our goals."

Ronaldo insisted that though he was hoping to perform, it was for nobody but himself and his team(s), and not to silence doubters such as Platini.

"I have nothing to prove to anyone," Ronaldo declared.

"A league is played over nine months and it is there where you can evaluate the great players. You cannot do it in short-term competition."

Cris looks for birthday win over world champs

Portugal striker Cristiano Ronaldo said on Monday he was looking forward to a birthday present in the form of a friendly win over world champions Italy.

The Manchester United winger turned 23 on Tuesday and admitted that a win "would make a nice present."

He explained: "For my birthday I would have liked to be with my family but the national team is like a second family and so a victory over Italy would make a nice present, especially since Portugal have not beaten Italy for 31 years."

Since that win in Lisbon in a friendly Italy have won nine and drawn one game, conceding just three goals in the process.

Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari said he would not hear of the game being just a warm-up for the European Championships.

"For me, against Italy, I want to win. We don't have a great record against them. We must change that."

United Prepare £44M Ronaldo Contract

Cristiano Ronaldo could soon be the Premiership's top earner as Manchester United prepare a bumper £44M contract. Reports on Sunday suggest that Sir Alex Ferguson is prepared to disregard the wage structure at Old Trafford in order to offer star man Cristiano Ronaldo a massive new deal.

The Portuguese will turn 23-year-old in the coming week and will be able to toast a £140,000-a-year deal. This would see Ronaldo oust Chelsea skipper John Terry as the Premier League’s highest earner. The defender ‘only’ makes £130,000.

Ronaldo signed a five-year deal last season that ties him to the Red Devils until 2012. However, with the in-form winger set to breeze past the 30 goal target set for him by his manager recently, he is set to be rewarded.

The Real Madrid transfer rumours are never far away from Ronaldo. The winger himself admitted earlier in the season that La Liga is the best fit for his football and hopes to move to Spain at some point.

The new contract may now be penned from the summer, by the Glazer family have reportedly given Sir Alex the OK to draft up the new deal, which will keep Ronaldo at the club until 2014.

Whatever happens, sources suggest that Fergie will do everything in his power to keep Ronaldo at Old Trafford as long as he is manager.

MU 1 : 1 Spurs

Carlos Tevez struck a priceless equaliser in the final minute of injury time as United came from behind to notch a 1-1 draw at Tottenham on Saturday afternoon.....More