Real's conduct irritates United
27 May 2008 - 17:44:31
Manchester United have threatened to report Real Madrid to FIFA if the Spanish club continue their attempts to sign Portugal international Cristiano Ronaldo.
Ronaldo has said he will confirm his future plans in a statement next month, but Real have persistently said they are keen to sign the 23-year-old.
United issued a statement on their official website, that read: "Manchester United has watched with growing irritation the comments attributed to Real Madrid over their alleged desire to sign Cristiano Ronaldo.
"The facts are: The player is on a long-term contract and his registration is held by Manchester United. The player is not for sale.
"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.
"These public attempts to unsettle the player are completely against the regulations and the club will not tolerate them any longer.
"In addition, the club is certain that they are a distraction for the Portuguese national squad as they prepare for the European Championships.
"No-one should be in any doubt that Manchester United will do everything in its power to keep its best players."
Earlier, Real Madrid coach Bernd Schuster had indicated he would try to lure Ronaldo away from Old Trafford, telling AS: "As a footballer, we do not have to waste time speaking of his quality.
"Most important was to evaluate him personally and as a professional and I must say Cristiano Ronaldo has his head straight.
"The situation is complicated for a lad of his age, but it hasn't affected his form as you saw at the end of the season with Manchester. It is necessary to be intelligent to solve the problems for the boy.
"Ronaldo will be expensive and it will be necessary to pay a lot of money, but we need more because he would not be sufficient.
"It seems that everything has been stopped just a little bit due to Cristiano Ronaldo being the big priority of the club now."
