Sir Alex Ferguson is confident
Cristiano Ronaldo will not be lulled into believing rumours of
interest from Barcelona and Real Madrid.
The Manchester United winger has enjoyed a superb season and is in
negotiations to extend his Old Trafford contract until 2012.
But reports have claimed that Spanish giants Barca and Real are
keen to tempt the Portugal international to La Liga.
Ferguson has accused the two clubs of using Ronaldo as a pawn in
their presidential election campaigns and expects the player to
ignore the purported overtures from Spain.
"Let's be perfectly clear, Barcelona and Real Madrid have been
doing this ever since I have been at this club," said
Ferguson.
"When the elections are on, the best player in the world is always
used, there is no doubt about that.
"Cristiano is not silly enough not to realise he is being used as a
pawn.
"They may be right, they may want him, but there is no doubt there
is another motive to it and that is the elections."
With regards to the contract negotiations, Ferguson concedes there
is a likely limit as to how much the club are prepared to
pay.
He added: "There could be a limit.
"They might ask for X and we might only want to pay Y. But that is
negotiation. Eventually, if both parties want it, they will come to
an agreement."
