Manchester United legend Sir Bobby Charlton has spoken out against the "vulgar" deal which looks set to take Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid.

The Portugal winger is expected to complete a move to the Bernabeu after United accepted a world-record offer of £80 million from the Spanish giants earlier this month.

The deal overshadows the £59 million Madrid president Florentino Perez recently paid for Brazil star Kaka from AC Milan, and Charlton admits the distorted prices in the transfer market this summer are difficult to comprehend.

Speaking from China where United have signed a multi-million pound partnership deal with Chinese digital technology firm aigo, Charlton said: "It's a lot of money, it's crazy really.

"If you want to be in the race, you have to pay the price. It seems sometimes a little bit vulgar.

"But, nevertheless, that is business, I'm afraid. We have responsibilities to our company and to all the fans that support Manchester United, and it was decided that Ronaldo could go."

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