Platini endorses Ronaldo pursuit - Sport in brief - Evening Standard
       

Platini endorses Ronaldo pursuit

Manchester United's hopes of fending off Real Madrid's interest in Cristiano Ronaldo have been dealt a further blow after UEFA president Michel Platini publicly endorsed the Spanish side's pursuit of the player.

United have already had an official complaint against Real rejected by FIFA and now Platini has said the Madrid club's public wooing of the player is part and parcel of the game.

Platini told a news conference in Vienna: "Every club in the world would like to have Ronaldo. It's part of the system we have today. Players move from club to club and I can understand why Real Madrid want him."

He continued: "They had Di Stefano and Puskas in the past, and as Ronaldo is considered one of the best or the best player in the world it's normal.

"If the club has the finances they can do it, if they don't have the money they can't."

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