Reuters

Real defensive over Ronaldo

Updated 08.40 Wed May 28 2008

Keywords: bernd schuster, ramon calderon, sir alex ferguson, cristiano ronaldo, real madrid, manchester united, premier league, sport, football

Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon has denied trying to unsettle Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo.

United insist they have no intention of selling Ronaldo but several officials from the Spanish club have expressed their admiration of the Portugal star.

"We have not interfered in Manchester United's contractual agreement" - Ramon Calderon

The row has caused a rift between two of Europe's biggest clubs.

United have threatened to report Real to Fifa, but Calderon has hit back.

He said: "We haven't interfered in Manchester United's contractual agreement with Cristiano Ronaldo.

"It is a shame that Manchester, a club with which we have excellent relations, is annoyed, because Real Madrid have nothing to do with that aspect."

Real coach Bernd Schuster did not deny the club's interest in Ronaldo last weekend.

He said: "There are other players we have been looking at but everything has slowed down a little due to all this Cristiano Ronaldo business, seeing as he is the big priority for the club.

"Cristiano would help us in a lot of ways, without a doubt.

"He will be expensive and we will have to pay a lot of money.

"The English way has been a perfect education for a player with such exceptional individual talent.

"There he has learned to enjoy his football as a complete professional. This means we would get a Cristiano who would arrive here with his lessons learned."

Ronaldo has said he would like to play in Spain at some stage in his career and his mother has admitted she dreams of watching him play for Real.

But a United statement read: "The player is on a long-term contract with Manchester United and he is not for sale.

"We have watched with growing irritation the comments attributed to Real Madrid over their alleged desire to sign Cristiano Ronaldo.

"These public attempts to unsettle the player are completely against the regulations and we will not tolerate them any longer.

"The club will have no alternative but to report Real Madrid to the world governing body, Fifa, if it continues to behave in this totally unacceptable fashion."