FIFA President Sepp Blatter said he had been misquoted
in likening Portugal and Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo
to a slave, but said there is modern slavery in
football.
"I have never said that Ronaldo is a slave," Blatter told
reporters on Friday on a visit to Vietnam. "But I said slavery with
young people, youngsters that European clubs are trying to get 13,
14 and 15 years old boys and bring them to the big clubs. This is
in my expression, this is modern slavery." he said "I have never
mentioned that for Ronaldo."
"But the press ... they have distorted it.
"Ronaldo is not a slave."
In an interview last month, Blatter called on Manchester United
to release Cristiano Ronaldo if the prized winger asks to join Real
Madrid, saying it was not right to hold him against his will even
if he was under contract to the English club.
"We should also protect the player and if the player wants to
play somewhere else, then a solution should be found," Blatter said
in that interview. "Because if he stays in a club where he does not
feel comfortable to play then it's not good for the player and for
the club ... I'm always in favour to protect the player and if the
player, he wants to leave, let him leave."
Blatter then added that "in football there is too much modern
slavery."
Those comments sparked widespread criticism, particularly from
Manchester United, which continues to insist Ronaldo will not be
sold despite ongoing speculation he will move to the Spanish
champion.
Blatter said on Wednesday that Ronaldo and the two clubs can
find a solution.
"They will solve this problem," he said "We have nothing to say,
Fifa is not going to intervene, let it be as it is now."
Blatter was on a one-day trip to Vietnam to inaugurate the first
phase of a Fifa-funded centre to train young talented
footballers.