Raul says he would welcome Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid with open arms, before hitting back at Sir Alex Ferguson's taunt that a move to Spain would be the 'worst thing' for his star player.

The transfer saga has filled the back pages since Champions League victory in Moscow, with the Portuguese winger refusing to commit his future to the club.

Raul: Has seen Galcticos like Zidane and Beckham at the Bernabeu - and he would welcome Ronaldo

While Real's Dutch starlet Wesley Sneijder questioned whether Ronaldo's mammoth wages would lead to dressing room discord at the Bernabeu, club captain Raul was adamant.

'I see no reason why he would cause problems. I think it could be very positive because we have a great squad, with a lot of big players and it is obvious that if a player of a very high level joined he would be welcome and helped to adapt," he told Spanish newspaper AS.

'We know the path to success and that is how we will continue to work. We have some important challenges ahead knowing that after winning two consecutive leagues we will have to raise our game even more.

'Our good form will continue whether Cristiano comes or not and at whatever price. Nothing will break up the unity we currently have."

Moving on to Ferguson's jibe, in a press conference on Tuesday, the 31-year-old blasted: 'Madrid is the best thing that could happen to anyone. I have been here 14 years and I would not change it for anything.'