Real denies pre-agreement for Ronaldo transfer

Spanish giants Real Madrid denied Friday persistent media reports that it has a pre-agreement to sign Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo from Manchester United.

“Real Madrid wishes to deny news that have appeared in several media regarding an alleged signing of Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo. No pre-agreement exists between the club and the player, his agent or Manchester United,” it said in a statement.

“As everyone knows, Real Madrid tried to sign the player last summer, but Manchester United firmly stated he would not be transferred,” it added.

Spanish sports dailies AS and Marca on Friday reported Ronaldo’s pending transfer to Real on their front pages while top-selling daily El Pais said last week the player and United had both signed agreements.

Under those, Manchester would let the 24-year-old 2008 FIFA World Footballer of the Year leave after July for a minimum of 80 million euros (110 million dollars), El Pais said.

Former Real vice-president Juan Onieva told Spanish radio on Wednesday that the pre-agreement regarding Ronaldo’s transfer did in fact exist but he said signing the player for tens of millions of euros would be “madness”.

Onieva, who was Real’s vice-president from 1995 to 2000, on Wednesday announced that he will be a candidate for president of the club in elections slated for June 14.

He will face off against former Real president Florentino Perez, who ran the club from 2000 to 2006 and is the runaway favourite to win the elections.

Ronaldo, who is under contract with United until 2012, has dismissed the reports linking him with a move to Real, saying he is happy at the English club.

Real tracked Ronaldo all of last summer following his Champions League and English Premiership triumphs and 42 goals across the campaign before United boss Sir Alex Ferguson stepped in and emphatically vetoed his departure.