Manchester United Football Club News

• Nickname:Red Devils
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• Manager:Sir Alex Ferguson

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Calderon ends Ronaldo chase

05 Aug 2008 - 14:18:17

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Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon appears to have finally given up hope of being able to sign Manchester United ace Cristiano Ronaldo this summer.

Calderon has been desperate to try and lure the Portugal winger to the Bernabeu, despite United being adamant that their star player was not for sale at any price.

That message seems to have finally won the day, following Calderon's comments to the press as his club sealed the signing of Dutch midfielder Rafael van der Vaart from Hamburg.

He told reporters: "Rafael van der Vaart is a player of great quality, vision and talent.

"We are certain that he will be a player who will help us complement the already very strong squad we have.

"He is the first and almost certainly the last signing we will make this season."

Ronaldo is currently recovering from ankle surgery and is expected to return to England in the next week or so to thrash out his future at Old Trafford.

Calderon had earlier admitted that his club could do little other than await the outcome of talks between the player and his current employers.

He commented: "At the moment Manchester United and the player are in an argument and Madrid are waiting and we can't do any more for the time being.

"Obviously, it's clear that we want Cristiano with the quality that he has, but there is a contractual problem that United and the player have to resolve, not us.

"Will he persuade the club to let him go? I can't say that. That question's for the player, who has publicly said his dream is to play for Madrid.

"United are the ones that have to sort it out and it will either happen or not."