Dirty tricks over Madrid move put Ronaldo in a hot spot

It was the latest twist to the summer-long saga of the Portugal winger’s battle either to quit United for Real Madrid or to drive up his Old Trafford salary.

Ronaldo, who has been on holiday in America recovering from ankle surgery, is back in Lisbon amid claims that he told Portuguese reporters: ‘Next week I will return to England and tell them my only desire is to play for Real and I will not negotiate.’

Friendlier times: Ferguson and Ronaldo chat at training

But the player’s advisers moved into damage limitation mode and insisted that no such interview had taken place.

United’s Player of the Year, who has had an orthodontic check-up in line with current thinking that the health of teeth and gums can affect well-being elsewhere in the body, is due at the Carrington complex in 10 days.

He is unlikely to be greeted with beaming smiles from Ferguson unless he rules out the idea of decamping to the Bernabeu a year into his lucrative five-year contract.

The Old Trafford boss is more likely to switch on the hairdryer to ‘welcome’ him back and stand firm alongside United chief executive David Gill, who has also adopted a hard-line stance on the subject.

Sir Alex met Ronaldo last month for a private chat and revealed it had been a productive meeting — any change from the 23-year-old now is likely to be given short shrift.

Ronaldo, who scored 42 goals for the champions last season, has agitated for a move all summer after declaring that he had made up his mind to quit Old Trafford even before the Champions League Final victory.

United’s refusal to contemplate recognising his efforts with any financial reward has been a slap in the ego for Ronaldo, whose camp still hope a compromise would keep him happy at United for another year.

But Real are well aware of Ronaldo’s intent and have not yet given up the chase for their £70million prize.

Club president Ramon Calderon said: ‘Madrid are just spectators in this soap opera. At the moment Manchester United and the player are in a contractual argument and Madrid are waiting. We can do no more for the time being.’

It is even possible that the Ronaldo affair could backfire on Real with Calderon forced to play down talk of a management crisis after coach Bernd Schuster lashed out over their summer transfer market activity. Schuster claimed he had been kept in the dark over Real’s pursuit of both Ronaldo and Hamburg's Rafael van der Vaart.

Calderon insisted: ‘I do not want to talk about statements I have not seen but the coach knows he is the first to be informed.’

Told that Schuster appeared angry in his media conference, Calderon replied: ‘I do not know his words, but I am convinced that these were made in an ironic tone or misunderstood. The atmosphere is wonderful.’

United had a scare when Wayne Rooney pulled out of training on Thursday morning, suffering from a stomach upset. Club doctors, however, insisted it was not serious although his participation in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s testimonial against Espanyol on Saturday may now be in doubt.

Waiting game: Robinho looks unlikely to join Chelsea, especially if Ronaldo stays put

Real, meanwhile, are more than just spectators as far as Chelsea are concerned and the London club are weighing up two Brazilian alternatives to Robinho should the playmaker stay at the Bernabeu. Werder Bremen's attacking midfielder Diego and Sao Paulo's highly-rated Hernanes are on Chelsea's list.

Robinho remains their top target but with Real's hopes of landing Ronaldo receding, their chances of signing the player are diminishing.

There is a growing belief in Spain that Robinho, 24, will sign a five-year deal at the Bernabeu after talks with sporting director Predrag Mijatovic in London this weekend.
Real are in the capital for the Emirates Cup.

That could prompt Chelsea to firm up their interest in Diego, who has 38 caps for his country and scored a 90th-minute equaliser against England at Wembley in June.

Attacking midfielder Hernanes is another option after Barcelona balked at Sao Paulo's demand for £20m earlier this summer. However, with just one cap for Brazil, the 23-year-old would struggle to obtain a work permit and may have to be loaned out to a European club first.

Chelsea's Brazilian manager Luiz Felipe Scolari also claimed - despite earlier admissions from Peter Kenyon that owner Roman Abramovich is keen for a more exciting brand of football - that he is under no pressure to win trophies with style.

He added: 'I am not contracted to play pretty but for Chelsea to win championships. If you play well and win championships, then great. This is the philosophy the owner wants. 'There wasn't a situation that Roman said to me, "We have to play beautiful". He said, "Do better for Chelsea". That's it.'

One player who looks to be staying at Chelsea is £30m Andriy Shevchenko. Ruling out a return to AC Milan for the 31-year- old Ukrainian striker, the Italians' coach Carlo Ancelotti said: 'Shevchenko will play at Chelsea this season.'