Old Trafford chiefs will let Ronaldo rot, says Fergie
SCREW YOU, REAL
SIR ALEX FERGUSON insists Manchester United's American owners will force Cristiano Ronaldo to rot in the stands if he demands a move to Real Madrid.
Ronaldo's international boss Luiz Felipe Scolari last night urged the Portuguese superstar to sign for the Spanish champions.
And as the war over Ronaldo's future turned nasty, Old Trafford boss Fergie declared: "The Glazers' attitude is ‘screw them'.
"They would sit a player in the stand just to prove a point."
Ferguson insists Ronaldo is going nowhere and revealed United's American owners have now got involved in the bitter battle.
Real refuse to accept that the player is not for sale, despite United chief executive David Gill sending them a stern letter stating that the Premier League and European Cup winners would not let Ronaldo go — even if he wants to.
Screw
Now the Glazer family have told Fergie they are prepared to make the double Footballer of the Year an Old Trafford outcast if he decides he wants to join Madrid.
Fergie declared: "The thing people miss the point about is that I've had a couple of meetings with the Glazers. Their attitude is: ‘Screw them'.
"They would sit a player in the stand — absolutely no doubt about it — just to prove a point.
"They will not give in to these people. They've got balls. I've been delighted with them in that respect.
"They have been good to this club, believe me. They have been brilliant owners."
Ronaldo still has four years left on his United contract after signing a new £110,000-a-week deal last year.
Although he has pledged his future to United he has also stated that he will make an announcement on his future after this summer's European Championship finals.
He met up with Scolari at the Portuguese training camp and the pair have discussed the opportunity of joining the Spanish champions.
When asked whether he would recommend that Ronaldo moves to Real, Scolari replied: "In football you don't live on memories. You have to take the opportunities that come along because, if you let them pass by, you'll probably never get them again in your life.
Fantastic
"I'm like an older friend to him and during these days together we've talked a lot."
Ronaldo has always been close to the Brazilian coach and regards him as a father figure.
He has been known in the past to consult Big Phil on major decisions in his life.
Real president Ramon Calderon and coach Bernd Schuster have constantly sent out blatant messages to the Spanish media that they expect Ronaldo to become their player this summer.
And yesterday Real sporting director Pedrag Mijatovic said: "Signing Cristiano Ronaldo is our objective.
"Spending 50m, 60m or 70m euros on a top player is not a waste of money.
"He is one of the best players in the world, a fantastic footballer and of course we are interested.
"But he has a team and we would never go against the rules of FIFA and UEFA."
In another bizarre twist, a brand new £90,000 Audi supercar was pictured in the club's car park last week with a handwritten note on the windscreen which read: "To be delivered to Cristiano Ronaldo."
Ethics
Spanish newspaper Marca even claimed Real have gone over the heads of Gill and Fergie to negotiate a £70m Ronaldo deal with the Glazers — a move that has been firmly denied by the American family.
The whole bitter saga has infuriated United. They have threatened to report Real to FIFA over the Spanish club "immoral" tactics.
United insist they would not sell Ronaldo for £100m and Old Trafford No2 Carlos Queiroz declared: "Ronaldo is not going to leave. Manchester United can offer the best conditions.
"Where we can't compete is in a lack of ethics — because we have ethics and we don't abandon them.
"The Real president was a director when I was manager. I knew what he was telling me and what actually happened.
"If I were the player's agent I'd have no doubt which environment is best and I know he shares my opinion."
Real are also supposed to have taken out an insurance policy before making a formal bid, protecting them from any fluctuations in the exchange rate between the pound and the euro.
But the most damaging claim from Madrid sources is that Ronaldo has decided to move because he is angry with United for not keeping a promise to offer him an improved contract.
Powers
It is alleged he sees Real's offer as fairer recognition for his achievements.
Sport of the World first exclusively revealed United were considering making a new contract offer of around £7m a year to Ronaldo as a reward for his record-breaking season.
But there was never any promise, either written or verbal, to the player or his agent.
United argue that Ronaldo only signed a new five-year deal in 2007 which adequately compensated him for his contribution.
Fergie insisted last week there was no new offer on the table and he was satisfied that the winger was happy to stay.
But sources close to the manager indicated he is ready to fly out to the Euro finals for a heart-to-heart with Ronaldo.
The United manager used his persuasive powers to convince the Portuguese winger to stay after the furore erupted when Ronaldo was accused of deliberately getting Wayne Rooney sent off during the 2006 World Cup finals.
All Fergie's managerial experience will be needed now to calm a storm that is turning into a hurricane and could yet sweep their most prized performer into the clutches of Real Madrid.
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