Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon insists Manchester United have ‘no evidence’ that the Spanish giants have acted inappropriately in their pursuit of Cristiano Ronaldo.FIFA confirmed yesterday they had received an official request from United to investigate the matter with the English club claiming Madrid have carried out a deliberate campaign to unsettle the 23-year-old Portugal winger, currently on duty at Euro 2008.
But Calderon is adamant his club have no case to answer. He said: ‘They don’t have any evidence because nothing has happened.
‘All there is is what the papers say and rumours that the player seems to want to leave. But at the moment a move is impossible because United don’t want to sell him.
‘It’s United’s right (to complain) but we haven’t done anything and we are not going to do anything. It’s a matter between the player and his club.’
Real Madrid coach Bernd Schuster has denied that the Spanish giants are ‘obsessed’ by Ronaldo. Schuster told the Spanish press that he will not let the issue overshadow his preparations for next season.
‘This Cristiano matter does not worry me nor am I obsessed by it,’ he told Spanish newspaper Marca.
‘While he doesn’t play for Madrid all we can do is hope, although it’s clear that he would be a great signing and would adapt well to our squad.’
FIFA’s regulations say one club has to inform another if they are to start negotiations with one of their players, although they do not stipulate any possible sanction.
FIFA’s regulations do not stipulate any possible sanction against Madrid but they do say one club have to inform another if they are to start negotiations with one of their players.
The rules do not specifically state, however, that the club that owns the player have to give consent.
Article 18 of FIFA’s regulations for the status and transfer of players states: ‘A club intending to conclude a contract with a professional must inform the player’s current club in writing before entering into negotiations with him.
‘A professional shall only be free to conclude a contract with another club if his contract with his present club has expired or is due to expire within six months. Any breach of this provision shall be subject to appropriate sanctions.’
United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has already voiced his dislike of Madrid’s touting for Ronaldo, claiming their major domestic rivals, Barcelona, refrain from public expressions of admiration for other clubs’ players.
He is adamant Ronaldo neither wants to, nor will be, leaving Old Trafford this summer.
A statement on the club’s official website, www.manutd.com, yesterday read: ‘On 27 May, Manchester United made clear its intention to report Real Madrid to FIFA if it continued to involve itself in the future of Cristiano Ronaldo.
‘Unfortunately, Real Madrid has not kept its own counsel and the club feels it has no alternative but to make a formal complaint to the world governing body, which it has done today.
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