Ronaldo is put in his place by Fergie - tough stance means no pay rise

United chief executive David Gill yesterday revealed the total success of the club's uncompromising stance over the Portuguese star - and of manager Sir Alex Ferguson's own brand of hardball diplomacy. Asked whether Ronaldo, the subject of three months of speculation over his future, had been promised a departure from Old Trafford as a condition of his remaining at United for another season, Gill's reply was a terse: 'No'.

Under orders: Cristiano Ronaldo

He also indicated that the stand taken over the player and Real Madrid's pursuit of him had the full backing of the club's American owners, the Glazer family.

'One of the benefits of being a privately owned club is we can do what we've done,' he said. 'I think if we were a plc, quoted on the Stock Exchange, we'd have to think about a whole group of shareholders, City institutions, and if the numbers bandied around for the player were true we'd have to think seriously about any substantial transfer bid. But we have owners who recognise that money in the bank is not going to help bring success on the pitch - and success on the pitch drives their business model.'

After a no-holds-barred confrontation between Ronaldo and Ferguson in Lisbon last week, the player has been told he must honour the five-year, £120,000-aweek agreement he signed last year. Ferguson was so incensed by Ronaldo's comments about slavery that he cancelled a planned meeting with the player and his agent Jorge Mendes on Saturday.

Mendes then spent most of Sunday pleading with the United boss, who relented and met them in the Portuguese capital on Monday. It was the only time Ferguson entered the controversy and it proved decisive, as Gill revealed.

'Ronaldo has got a contract that lasts until 2012, he's a valuable member of the team and that's the situation,' said Gill. 'Obviously there are some issues there, but that's for Alex and it's why Alex had the meeting with the player; to discuss things and put our point of view. I'm sure Cristiano put his point of view and hopefully we can move forward. But without doubt, there could have been clarity earlier on, shall we say.

'All we were doing, effectively, is saying we clearly have a player who is one of the best players in the world. He entered into a new contract, which is his third contract with us and was only signed 15 to 18 months after his previous contract. He did this freely of his own will in April 2007.

'It was a long-term contract and with that, we believe, go some responsibilities and obligations. 'There was an increased salary within it and we clearly feel there has to be some commitment and loyalty and he can't just say "I've entered into it, but I'll leave a year down the line". It's a two-way street and contracts are entered into with a view to getting that kind of commitment.'

Gill was unequivocal about reports that Ronaldo would be offered an improved deal. 'There will be no new contract,' he said. 'He only entered into the previous contract 18 months before and in terms of where he's at in our wage hierarchy, he's doing pretty well.

'It was suggested that Ronaldo's aim was a new deal, but I don't think it was necessarily that and if the figures bandied about that Real Madrid are talking about are true, we wouldn't go anywhere near that. That would be lunacy.'