Post by Bismarck on Dec 18, 2008 18:03:58 GMT
Sir Alex Ferguson has launched a stinging attack on Real Madrid following claims from the Spanish club that they have done a deal to sign Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Manchester United manager battled hard last summer to hold onto the newly crowned the Ballon D'Or winner and United fans had been led to believe that Real's interest in the Portuguese winger had ended.
However, bold claims from Real director Pedro Trapote who said that a deal to sign Ronaldo had been agreed has reignited the debate surrounding the player and prompted a furious reaction from Ferguson.
''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.''
Ferguson's comments came on Thursday after United's spectacular 5-3 win over Gamba Osaka in the semi-final of the FIFA Club World Cup which saw them into Sunday's final and a match against LDU Quito.
Although Ferguson was eventually guided away from the subject in the post-match press conference, 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 Old Trafford.
''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.
''We just have to ignore it. If we worry about what Real Madrid have to say we are not concentrating on our own publicity and the programme of difficult games we have got coming up.
''Sometimes they create an angry situation and sometimes I get really annoyed with them. But we know their game. I think we should play ours and ignore them.''
Observers have suggested the Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon could be trying to engineer a move for Ronaldo in an attempt to bolster his chances of winning re-election to the position in 2010; with Real trailing in La Liga to Barcelona hopes of landing a marquee player could placate angry supporters.
Ferguson's outspoken comments have added a fascinating sub-plot to Friday's Champions League draw, with Real one of five potential knock-out round opponents for the Old Trafford outfit.
Ronaldo was on target in the Club World Cup semi-final win over the J-League's Gamba doubling United's lead after Nemanja Vidic had put them in front with a trademark header.
But the real fun began once Wayne Rooney was introduced 18 minutes from time.
The England forward scored with virtually his first touch immediately after Gamba had pulled a goal back.
Darren Fletcher got his name on the scoresheet before Rooney struck again, only for Gamba to grab two goals themselves at the death.
''I think Wayne can be a number nine,'' said Ferguson of Rooney's ability to play in a more direct attacking role. We are trying to develop him that way. We have tried to play him there for most of the season.
''His movement, strength and penetration are very good. For the third goal that really killed them he made two runs, across and back and across and behind. They were really clever.
''It marks out the quality he can give you in that position and he will improve from there.''
Ferguson has vowed to make changes for the Quito encounter - the normal Europe versus South America clash to decide the world number one.
It will be the last game Patrice Evra is eligible for until January 11, following the four-match ban imposed on him by the FA for violent conduct in the post-match fracas at Chelsea last season.
In their conclusions, which have been made public, the FA blamed Evra for starting the trouble, while condemning the evidence offered by, among others, Ferguson's assistant Mike Phelan, who was described as unreliable and unimpressive.
''To go through what they have said would take up too much time,'' said Ferguson. ''As I have said before, we are disappointed. I don't think what the FA have done is very clever.''