May 27, 2008 - 2:17 PM
0 shoutsMANCHESTER, England (Ticker) -- Manchester United insisted Tuesday that they may report Real Madrid to FIFA over the Spanish powerhouse's public pursuit of Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Premier League and European champions issued a statement describing their "growing irritation" at continuing comments seemingly emerging from Real Madrid concerning their interest in Ronaldo.
"Manchester United has watched with growing irritation the comments attributed to Real Madrid over their alleged desire to sign Cristiano Ronaldo," the team said in a statement posted on its web site. "The facts are: the player is on a long-term contract, and his registration is held by Manchester United; The player is not for sale.
"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. These public attempts to unsettle the player are completely against the regulations, and the club will not tolerate them any longer.
Manchester United also expressed concern that the rumors linking Ronaldo and real could distract the striker from from preparing to represent his native Portugal at the upcoming Euro 2008.
"The club is certain that (the rumors) are a distraction for the Portuguese national squad as they prepare for the European Championships," United said. "No one should be in any doubt that Manchester United will do everything in its power to keep its best players."
Madrid coach Bernd Schuster confirmed Ronaldo is his club's No. 1 summer transfer target.
United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has already voiced his dislike of Madrid touting for Ronaldo, pointing out their major domestic rivals, Barcelona, refrain from public expressions of admiration for other clubs' players.
But with any softly-softly approach for Ronaldo almost certain to meet with failure, Real decided to come out all guns blazing.
Ferguson likely will be infuriated by Schuster referring to the 23-year-old Ronaldo in a manner that would suggest the signing has virtually been completed.
"There are other players we have been looking at, but everything has slowed down a little due to all this Cristiano Ronaldo business, seeing as he is the big priority for the club," Schuster said. "The English way has been a perfect education for a player with such exceptional individual talent.
"There he has learned to enjoy his football as a complete professional. This means we would get a Cristiano who would arrive here with his lessons learned."
