Fergie: Real have no morals
23 May 2008 - 13:45:50
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has accused Real Madrid of lacking morals over their public pursuit of Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Spanish champions have made the 23-year-old Portugal international their top summer transfer target following his stunning season for the Old Trafford club.
Ronaldo has led United to a Premier League and Champions League double after scoring 42 times this term, but has remained coy on his future when asked despite only being 12 months into a five-year contract.
Both Real Madrid coach Bernd Schuster and club president Ramon Calderon have expressed their interest in luring the former Sporting Lisbon protégé to the Bernabeu, but Ferguson has angrily denied reports that United could be tempted to cash in on the star winger.
"They think they can ride roughshod over everyone but they won't do it with us," declared Ferguson. "Real Madrid have no moral issues at all.
"In terms of great clubs, Barcelona have far better morality than Real Madrid will ever have.
"Do you not think we have had many expressions of interest about our players from big clubs in Europe?
"Real Madrid are not the only club interested in Ronaldo, but the others are not saying so. They don't get into this nonsense.
"The simple fact is Cristiano has another four years left on his contract."