Cristiano Ronaldo has spurned his first opportunity to repair his relationship with Sir Alex Ferguson, while Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon assured the Portuguese winger's proposed move to the Bernabeu was "sorted".
Ronaldo, who is on holiday in Los Angeles, was interviewed for the first time since the Manchester United manager revealed details of their meeting in Portugal last week. However, he gave no backing to Ferguson's assertion that "Ronaldo will be a Manchester United player next season". Instead, in comments that would have been greeted with exasperation by United officials in South Africa, Ronaldo again refused to commit himself to the remaining four years of his United contract.
"I have had hundreds of questions about Manchester United and Real Madrid," he said. "What do you want me to say? That I am staying or that I am going? I don't know about the future - only God knows that. Great players are always hunted by great clubs, it is a normal situation. I want to be happy regardless of where I play. I can be happy anywhere if I am with people I like or if I am motivated."
That Ronaldo and Ferguson are still reading from different scripts can only encourage Real Madrid to plough on with their proposed 85 million euro (£68 million) offer.
Speaking to the Madrid squad when they returned for pre-season training, Calderon is said to have told them: "Don't worry, we have it all sorted." Addressing the Spanish media, Calderon claimed that Ferguson's insistence that Ronaldo would not be leaving Old Trafford under any circumstances this summer was merely a way of raising the price in a deal that will be done sooner or later. "This type of transfer is hard," he said. "I suppose this is Manchester United's way of letting us know clearly that they are not going to lower the price and that, if we want him, we are going to have to pay a lot more money."
Tottenham, meanwhile, see a parallel between Real's pursuit of Ronaldo and United's alleged interest in Spurs striker Dimitar Berbatov. It has emerged that Tottenham issued a private warning to United about Berbatov before making their formal complaint to the Premier League last week. Spurs chairman Daniel Levy believes United failed to listen to his initial complaint and, despite Ferguson predicting on Saturday that the row would become "very embarrassing" for Tottenham, will not withdraw his accusation that the United manager has committed "one of the worst offences by any manager in the Premier League to date".
Ferguson said that Tottenham's complaint was based on comments he denies making to a newspaper.But Tottenham are surprised that Ferguson distanced himself only from the newspaper quotes and believe they have further evidence about United's conduct over the past 12 months to support their claims. Club sources say Spurs had been considering an official complaint for several months following alleged contact between United and Berbatov, as well as the player's agent, without their permission.
Spurs' decision to issue such a strongly worded statement was taken only after consultation with club lawyers while Ferguson, in response, has warned that United will be considering their own legal position.
Levy, who has also complained about Liverpool's interest in Robbie Keane, called Ferguson "unbelievably hypocritical" following his stance over Real Madrid's pursuit of Ronaldo.
The Premier League are to investigate whether Spurs have a case, though the departure of Berbatov now appears inevitable.
Spurs, meanwhile, are hoping to finalise the sale of four players - Pascal Chimbonda, Steed Malbranque, Teemu Tainio and Younes Kaboul - to Sunderland in a deal worth a total of £23?million.
