Cristiano Ronaldo's desire to join Real Madrid appeared stronger than ever last night after a television interview in which he reiterated he had not changed his mind about wanting to leave Manchester United and agreed with the Fifa president Sepp Blatter's criticism about the way the European Cup winners had handled the situation. Blatter had urged United to allow the player to leave and, more controversially, complained that there was "too much modern slavery" in the sport.
Blatter, an honorary member of Real Madrid with close ties to the club's president, Ramón Calderón, had described himself as "very much in sympathy" with Ronaldo and urged United to allow him to leave, suggesting it was otherwise tantamount to slavery. "I agree with what he said," said Ronaldo, when that last point was put to him. "It's true. I agree with what the president of Fifa said. I know what I want and what I would like. We have to see what happens. I do not know where I will begin next season."
Ronaldo was subsequently asked whether that meant he still wanted to move to Madrid. "At the moment I can't say any more," he replied. "But you know what I said [at the end of Euro 2008] and what I want." He was asked when it would be sorted out. "I hope very soon."
Blatter's comments had been widely condemned, with United saying there were "taken aback" by his choice of words and the Professional Footballers' Association calling for a retraction. Ronaldo, who earns more than £100,000 a week on a contract signed last year, seemed oblivious to the reaction at Old Trafford. "What the president of Fifa said is correct," he said when pressed further. "He is right."
Speaking to the Portuguese television station TVI, Ronaldo was asked to clarify whether he had agreed terms with Madrid. "It's not true," he said. "There is not an agreement." His interviewer then wanted to know why he and Ferguson had not spoken this summer. "I don't want to say anything," he responded.
Although Ronaldo strategically stopped short of directly stating he wanted to leave Old Trafford, there were several instances when he was asked to clarify his position and chose against saying anything positive about the club. He also did not express any regret about the impact for United of Ferguson's assistant, Carlos Queiroz, becoming Portugal's new manager. "Carlos is a great coach - he showed it many times in Manchester and before that in Portugal. I think he would be a great option for the national team." Ronaldo had been due to report for pre-season training on Monday but it emerged he had been given permission to remain in Portugal while he recuperates from surgery on his right ankle. The player was on crutches and revealed he might be out for "10 to 12 weeks."
