We are not interfering, insists Calderon. (Action Images/Gustao Nacarino)
Wednesday May 28, 2008
MADRID - Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon insists the Spanish champions are not trying to unsettle the Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo.
Madrid's lengthy pursuit of Ronaldo has angered United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, with the Scot last week accusing the Spaniards of having "no morals".
Matters reached a head earlier on Tuesday when United revealed they may report Madrid to FIFA over their public pursuit of Ronaldo.
"Manchester United has watched with growing irritation the comments attributed to Real Madrid over their alleged desire to sign Cristiano Ronaldo," read a statement on club website www.manutd.com.
"The club will have no alternative but to report Real Madrid to the world governing body, FIFA, if it continues to behave in this totally unacceptable fashion."
Madrid reacted swiftly to United's strongly-worded statement, with Calderon adamant his club have acted correctly.
"We haven't interfered in Manchester United's contractual agreement with Cristiano Ronaldo," Calderon said on Tuesday night.
"It is a shame that Manchester, a club with which we have excellent relations, is annoyed, because Real Madrid have nothing to do with that aspect."
Calderon also claimed Madrid have not been in contact with the Portugal winger.
"Real Madrid have never negotiated with players under contract and we will not do that, because we wouldn't like it if others did it with our players," he said.
The Madrid president believes his side's pursuit of Ronaldo has been blown out of proportion by the Spanish and English press.
"The media have fed this problem and we are not going to get into a conflict with Manchester, who are a club we consider to be our friend, and one with which we hope to continue enjoying a good relationship," added Calderon, who revealed he hopes to speak to United chief executive David Gill to clear up the matter.
"I am going to personally speak with David Gill because I want to clear this up with him and assure him that we are not going to influence any player to break a contractual relationship," he said.
"There is no 'Ronaldo case' and I regret, in the name of Real Madrid, any discomfort this may have caused.
"Our posture in this case is the same as the rest of the teams when there are players under contract."
However, the 57 year-old did not rule out signing the United forward at some point in the future.
"If the team decides to sell the player, that's another thing," he said.
"What is occurring is a problem between the player and his team."
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