Ferguson slams Real Madrid over Ronaldo claim

Dec 18, 2008 - 5:02 PM By Simone Stone

YOKOHAMA, Japan (Ticker) -- Sir Alex Ferguson has launched a stinging attack on Real Madrid's claims they have done a deal to sign Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Manchester United manager thought he had put an end to immediate speculation over Ronaldo's future plans when he talked the Ballon D'Or winner into staying at Old Trafford last summer.

In recent times conciliatory messages have been coming out of the Bernabeu which suggested they would turn their attentions elsewhere, having established United are not willing to part with their star man.

However, the calm waters have been rocked again after bold claims from Real director Pedro Trapote who said the deal to sign Ronaldo had been agreed.

The initial private reaction was terse and to the point. Now Ferguson has gone public with an amazing attack which left no doubt he would not be doing business with Real now, next summer, or at any time in the future.

"Do you think I would enter into a contract with that mob?" he said. "No chance. I would not sell them a virus.

"That is a 'no' by the way. There is no agreement whatsoever between the clubs."

Although Ferguson was eventually guided away from the subject, he still managed to outline his view on Real's strategy, which the United boss feels is being influenced by Ronaldo's close friend Gabriel Heinze, who joined Real from the Red Devils last year after he was denied his preferred choice of a move to Liverpool.

Ferguson knows the speculation will not stop. However, he wants to try to concentrate on his own team.

"Real blame anybody but themselves," he said.

"I said to (chief executive) David Gill a year last summer when we sold Gabriel Heinze he could bet his life this stuff will all start up around Ronaldo in January. It will happen again this January.

Ferguson's outspoken comments have added a fascinating sub-plot to Friday's Champions League draw, with Real one of five potential knockout round opponents for the Old Trafford outfit.