Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo is not for sale
at any price, according to the club's chief executive David Gill.
The 21-year-old has been linked with a move to Real Madrid but Gill
told BBC Five Live's Sportsweek that a £35m bid would be "turned
down straightaway". Gill added: "There has been no offer. Ronaldo
signed a new contract in 2005 to stay with us until 2010. "He is
clearly someone we want to stay and we will make sure that he
does."
Gill underlined that United's strategy is to strengthen their
squad, not to sell any of their best players. He stated: "The big
clubs may talk in the papers but they fully understand our
position. They know we are not a selling club of our prize assets
so there is no way that will be sanctioned. "As I think Arsenal
manager Arsene Wenger has said on many occasions, football clubs
aren't banks - we are there to provide top-class entertainment and
put out a top side. "There is no point having £35m, £40m or £45m if
we can't replace that talent. At 21, Ronaldo has had a great season
and we believe the best is yet to come."
Gill said any offer would have to go to the club's owners, the
Glazer family, for consideration - but is adamant it would be
rejected. "If I put it to them it would be a very short call," he
explained. "If the manager says 'no sale' then they go along with
it without a doubt. "They are fully in support and they fully
understand sport. They want to invest in talent, they don't want to
sell our top talent." Gill admitted it is unlikely that United will
capture Bayern Munich midfielder Owen Hargreaves during the January
transfer window.
United made a fresh offer for the 25-year-old England international
earlier this month but, according to reports from Germany, Bayern
will not let him leave until the summer. Gill said: "There are
three days to go until the end of the transfer window so that is a
fairly sensible conclusion. "We are interested in the player but
Bayern are not willing to sell him so we have to leave it at
that."
