CRISTIANO RONALDO is not for sale at ANY
price.
That is the blunt message from Manchester
United’s owners the Glazer family to Real Madrid. Real believe they
can take advantage of the Glazers’ £600million debt in owning
United by offering a record-busting £70m for Ronaldo. But a senior
source close to the American family told SunSport: “There is no way
Ronaldo is for sale at all, even if he puts in a transfer
request.”
The Glazers insist they will back United boss Alex
Ferguson all the way in his bid to keep Portuguese winger Ronaldo,
23. The source said: “Anyone thinking the debt comes into this is
totally ignorant of the facts. “The debt is covered comfortably by
the interest payments.
“In the three years the family have owned the club,
they have shown a clear track record of investment which will
continue. “The Glazers have never meddled in anything the manager
has done and never will interfere.
“All decisions on buying and selling are down to him
and if he wants new players the money is there. “There is no truth
in any insinuation we would be willing to talk to Real Madrid about
selling Cristiano. That is nonsense.”
United are adamant Ronaldo must return to pre-season
training at Carrington three weeks after Portugal’s Euro 2008
campaign ends. The Glazer source added: “The next move is for the
manager to talk to Cristiano when he returns for training.”
There was strong opposition when US sports
tycoon Malcolm Glazer took control of United. But they have spent
upwards of £200million on players and new deals for existing
stars.
United believe Ronaldo’s posturing is partly to get a
new Old Trafford contract. Ronaldo has publicly said he wants to go
to Real. But at Euro 2008 yesterday he said: “Before the last game
I told you I don’t want to discuss my future because I am
concentrated on the Germany game. I will talk about it at the end
of the European Championship.”
Asked if he preferred English fish and chips or Spanish
paella, Ronaldo replied ‘bacalhau’ — Portuguese salted cod.
