Fergie determined not to let hitmen drive Ronaldo into the arms of Real

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Ferguson is so conscious about lifting Ronaldo's morale that he will hold private talks with the £50million-rated winger, who has long been admired by Spanish champions Real Madrid.

Fall guy: Ronaldo is bundled over by Distin, but no penalty is given

He was outraged his Portugal superstar was fouled repeatedly in the FA Cup defeat by Portsmouth and was denied a penalty when barged by Sylvain Distin. At Derby yesterday, three home players were booked for fouls on the winger, two of them in the first 22 minutes.

The FA will decide whether to charge Ferguson for his comments about referee Martin Atkinson after hearing his explanation, but last night the United boss indicated his outrage owed more to a wider concern that Ronaldo will leave unless he gets more protection.

The player said after the semi-final loss that sometimes he 'was too scared to do my skills' after what happened to Arsenal striker Eduardo. 'I hope it doesn't drive him away,' said Ferguson.

'We're supposed to be an entertainment business. It's supposed to be a game of football. Players like him get more protection in Europe.'

Ferguson will make it a personal mission to ensure Ronaldo does not have his head turned by Madrid. 'We'll have to encourage him that all the benefits of being here are good,' he said.

Eduardo's horrific leg-break following a late tackle by Martin Taylor has concentrated attention on bad challenges, although there is no evidence the Birmingham player intended to injure his opponent.

Yesterday, Eduardo's team-mate Cesc Fabregas said he was astonished centre-back Taylor received only a three-match ban.

'How can a professional player do that type of tackle,' said Fabregas. 'Of course I blame him. He did it and he knows why he did it.

'I don't know how a player gets injured and is out for a year and the player who does it gets suspended for three games. It's very unfair.'