Ronaldo: I Am Not Going To Manchester

The 23-year-old has opted to stay away from negotiations that were scheduled for today (Tuesday) and will now incur the wrath of the English giants. Marca, who have been central to the entire storyline linking the player with Real Madrid, believe that he has told friends: "I am not going to go to Manchester." While that is emblazoned on the paper's front page, inside Ronaldo was less forthcoming when a a reporter caught up with him as he only commented: "I cannot say anything right now." According to the story, the Madeira-born star does not want to make a statement for fear of jeopardising any chance he has of moving to the Bernabéu this summer. Instead, he is going to remain in Gerés, a small town in the north of Portugal and consider what he should do next while his representatives talk to the Red Devils. Ferguson appeared confident that the player would stay for at least one more season after a visit to Portugal last month and the English press have said that a deal could be in place for him to be sold next summer. But Madrid's persistence may well be paying off in yet another turn in the road for what has been the story of the summer so far and the next step could be an angry one from United. Rumours persist that the Spanish club may have used a trick that the previous regime at the club have carried out in the past when Luis Figo moved from Barcelona. A pre-contract agreement was signed then by the Blaugrana star that if Florentino Pérez won the election then he would move, b ut if he refused to then he would have to pay €30m to escape from the deal. That effectively meant that Figo was left with little choice and the transfer went through and stunned everyone and the same could be on the cards for Ronaldo.

Lucas Brown, Goal.com