Denial: Real say no deal has been done for Ronaldo
Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon has rubbished
reports that they have an agreement in place to take
Manchester
United winger Cristiano Ronaldo to the
Bernabeu next summer, insisting the issue is 'totally
dead'.
The Madrid supremo also responded to Sir Alex Ferguson's latest
attack of the Spanish giants by claiming they would not be entering
into a mud-slinging contest with the Old Trafford
outfit.
Ferguson has been a fierce critic of Madrid for their part in
this summer's long-running transfer saga involving Ronaldo, and the
Scotsman vented his anger again yesterday following fresh
speculation linking the Primera Liga champions with the Portuguese
winger.
It was claimed in a Spanish newspaper earlier this week that a
Madrid director, Pedro Trapote, was quoted as saying there was an
agreement in place for Madrid to sign the Ballon D'Or winner at the
end of the season, to which Ferguson responded yesterday: 'I would
not sell them a virus.'
Calderon today dismissed the possibility of a deal having been
struck for Ronaldo though, telling his club's website: 'Manchester
United did not accept the transfer of Cristiano Ronaldo to Real
Madrid this summer. From this moment Real Madrid focused on other
objectives.
'It is absolutely false that there exists any agreement with
Manchester United about this business, of which I am tired. The
matter is totally dead and as such I don't want to talk about it
anymore.'
Calderon, who has been the target of most of Ferguson's ire,
also responded to the latest comments made by the Red Devils boss
about Madrid.
'Our club's code of conduct does not include insults, contempt,
or a lack of respect to our opponents. Maybe for this reason Real
Madrid are respected in all corners of the world,' Calderon
said.
'It is sad that a professional with the career of Mr Ferguson
can make declarations like these, in addition to some of the other
unfortunate things in the last few months.
'Despite that, Real Madrid will never respond with a lack of
respect to Manchester United, to any of their directors, nor of
course to their fans, for whom everyone has the greatest of
respect.'