Real Madrid defender Pepe admits he is growing increasingly frustrated
  by the ongoing Cristiano Ronaldo transfer saga.

The Spanish champions have conducted a summer-long pursuit of Ronaldo
  as they attempt to prise the Portugal international away from
Manchester
  United.

However, despite cyclical speculation, a move has yet to materialise -
  much to the frustration of Real president Ramon Calderon.

Bernabeu boss Bernd Schuster has sounded his concerns over his club's
  'obsession' with Ronaldo and Pepe - an international colleague of the
  United star - has echoed the sentiments of his manager.

"There is a bit of a lack of respect because a team is not made of one
  player - however good he is," said Pepe.

"Pele and Maradona won games but they had the help of their team-
mates.

"We are a bit tired with this issue but we know that if Cristiano
comes
  he will help us and we will help him to adapt into the dressing
room."

Manchester United legend Eric Cantona has warned Cristiano Ronaldo he
  would be 'stupid' to leave Old Trafford.

Ronaldo is at the centre of this summer's biggest transfer saga as
Real
  Madrid attempt to lure the Portuguese winger away from United.

The 23-year-old has played his cards close to his chest, but he is
  believed to be keen to move to Spain.

However, Cantona - who retired at Old Trafford in 1997 after starring
  for United for five seasons - has urged Ronaldo to stay, claiming his
  style perfectly suits the Premier League champions.

"Cristiano Ronaldo is the best player in the world right now," Cantona
  said in the Daily Star. "He is a genuine artist.

"His style of play fits Manchester United's very well, and the reverse
  is also true. It is pleasing to see such harmony.

"As for him wanting to join Real Madrid, I don't really know his
  personality. Maybe he has valid reasons that drive him to leave
United.

"He is still young, and so maybe he wants to take on fresh challenges.
  I can understand if this is the reason why he wants to leave for
Real.

"But if he were to leave because of something else, I think he would
be
  doing something absolutely stupid."

Edwin van der Sar says he can see no reason why Real Madrid target
  Ronaldo would want to swap Old Trafford for the Bernabeu.

"In my opinion, being at Manchester United is a great way to play at
  the highest level and win trophies with a team that is very closely
  knitted together," said van der Sar.

He continued: " Cristiano also has a contract here. Sometimes things
  change but we have a good squad here without any question. It is not
that
  the team is going backwards."

Manchester United chief executive David Gill has revealed the Glazer
  family are fully behind the decision to retain Cristiano Ronaldo.

Ronaldo's future has been in doubt since the latter stages of last
  season following public interest from Primera Division champions Real
  Madrid.

It has been strongly reported that Real are poised to launch a
  record-breaking bid for the Portuguese, should he declare his
intention to
  leave Old Trafford.

However, the Red Devils are standing firm amid the speculation, and
  have on numerous occasions insisted the 23-year-old is not for sale.

And Gill has confirmed that the club are unanimous in their decision
to
  keep Ronaldo after he explained that a brief meeting at the UEFA
  Champions League final with the owners, the Glazer family, confirmed
their
  desire to retain the two-time PFA Players' Player of the Year.

Gill said: "We saw them (the owners) at the Champions League final and
  the speculation was already present then. It was a short, quick
  conversation.

"Under the PLC regime, we would not have had to sell him but we would
  have had to be more public.

"We would have had to consult major shareholders a lot more.
Ultimately
  it would have been a more public situation.

"As it is we have had one phone call, one chat in Moscow and the
  decision was made. Full stop."

He added: "You cannot say what will definitely happen in a year's
time.
  But by then he will still have three years left on his contract.

"Let's not worry too much about it. He is at the best club and Alex is
  very comfortable about it.

"We may give him another contract next summer, you never know. I have
  not, however, had detailed discussions with his advisors."

Ramon Calderon has insisted Real Madrid will begin the 2008/09 season
  with a 'very complete' squad, with or without Manchester United's
  Cristiano Ronaldo.

Ronaldo's uncertain future at Old Trafford has dominated the summer's
  transfer headlines amid Real's public pursuit of the winger.

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is adamant Ronaldo will remain at the
  club, however the Portugal international has still yet to clearly
  indicate where he sees his footballing future.

Real president Calderon admits the club plan to bring in a 'few'
  signings before the close of the transfer window, but believes the
squad is
  already well equipped to defend their Primera Liga title.

"We can't talk about footballers who aren't ours," he told Spanish
  television channel Atena 3.

"I've already said several times that we have a very complete squad,
  who have just won the Primera Liga.

"We built a great team last year. If we finally make some signings,
  they would be few but very good."

On Ronaldo, he added: "It is the player and the club who are talking
  about a possible problem, we are unconnected to all that."

Real Madrid captain Raul has spoken out in defence of the club after
  Sir Alex Ferguson stated that joining the club would be the worst
thing
  that Cristiano Ronaldo could do for his career.

Los Merengues icon Raul was stunned by the Scotsman's outburst and
  believes that playing for the Spanish giants would be the pinnacle
for any
  player.

The public tussle over Ronaldo continued with Ferguson's words and
Raul
  felt that he could not let the comments pass without responding.

"Joining Madrid is the best thing that could happen to anyone," Raul
  told Marca. "I have been here for 14 years and I would not change
  anything."

With rumour and counter-rumour a daily occurrence as the media try to
  be the first to predict whether Ronaldo will stay or leave United,
the
  soundbytes from both camps are increasing.

Ferguson's statement came on the same day that the Premier League
  giants were given some encouragement by their player that he would
stay as
  he talked about the team improving next term.

Madrid president Ramon Calderon has also continued to keep the saga in
  the papers with comments, but his optimism has waned of late and the
  club have now reportedly asked about Kaka.

Guti believes that Cristiano Ronaldo would be a welcome addition to
the
  Real Madrid squad.

The future of the Manchester United winger has dominated the headlines
  this summer, with the Red Devils embroiled in a tug-of-war with their
  Spanish counterparts which shows no sign of abating.

The Primera Liga champions have made no secret of their desire to land
  the Portugal international, and are prepared to pay a record-breaking
  transfer fee in order to land their man.

Should Ronaldo complete a move to the Santiago Bernabeu he would
  undoubtedly rocket to the top of the club's highest earners.

There have been murmurs that a number of Real's established stars
would
  be unwilling to see their wages eclipsed by a new arrival, but club
  captain Raul, and now Guti, have insisted that the team spirit in the
  camp would not be disrupted by the capture of a player regarded as
  arguably the best in the world.

"Real Madrid need good players and Cristiano Ronaldo is the best
player
  you can bring in right now," Guti said.

"We would be delighted to have him. He wouldn't upset the good
  atmosphere, and anyway people tell me he's a great person and a good
team
  player.

"Everyone works to earn as much as they can get and if he's one of the
  best players in the world he should earn more.

"Maybe he won't win you the Champions League on his own, but he's very
  tricky and he'll win you games. With players like that you've always
  got chances to win plenty of titles."

Manchester United ace Carlos Tevez believes Cristiano Ronaldo's desire
  to join Real Madrid should be respected and not ignored.

The Portugal international's future has been the number one transfer
  story this summer after he confirmed his wishes to join the Liga
giants,
  a move which prompted The Reds Devils to slap a 'not for sale' sign
on
  his services.

Despite Real's best efforts to prise the 23-year-old away from Old
  Trafford, the free-scoring winger remains on a long-term deal with
The Red
  Devils.

Tevez believes that if Ronaldo's heart is set on a move to El Santiago
  Bernabeu then United should be more willing to talk, a move that is
  unlikely to go down well with manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

"The [United] team has great players, including Cristiano Ronaldo, of
  course," Tevez told AS.

"It's clear that he is a very important player for us, but this is a
  personal decision, which is up to only him.

"I understand Cristiano. Every footballer wants to play at Real
Madrid.
  On the other hand, I also think that everyone wants to play for
  Manchester United, but if what he seeks is something else, I think
that
  should be respected.

"I have not talked to him, but when these things happen, neither side
  feels good."

Man United boss Sir Alex Ferguson claims Ronaldo woud be making a big
  mistake if he quits Old Trafford.

Ronaldo himself has repeatedly refused to commit his future to United
  but his manager expects him to stay.

Ferguson said: "He signed a five-year contract last year and has four
  years left. That's definite. I think he knows genuinely where the best
  club is to be and that's Manchester United."

Speaking on United's tour to South Africa, Ferguson insisted a switch
  to Spain would harm the player's career. "I honestly believe that could
  be the worst thing he could do," he said.

Manchester United chief executive David Gill is adamant that Real
  Madrid target Cristiano Ronaldo is not for sale.

Real are refusing to give up on their pursuit of the Portuguese star
  with club president Ramon Calderon determined to lure him to El
Santiago
  Bernabeu.

Ronaldo's future has been dominating the headlines all summer with the
  player refusing to rule out a move away from Old Trafford.

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has warned Ronaldo off making a move to
  Madrid saying it would be a mistake and now Gill says United have
told
  the Spanish titans they have no plans to sell the skilful attacker.

"We made it clear to them [Real Madrid] from day one we wouldn't
  welcome a bid, it wouldn't be accepted and therefore I don't think
there is
  not much point in putting one in," Gill told Sky Sports News.

"That's where we are at with the situation.

"Obviously there has been lots of paper talk and a lot of coverage in
  the media about it and we understand that.

"But the reality of it is we have been very firm from day one.
Straight
  after the Champions League final, if you wind back the clock to say
  Cristiano is a great player, a great asset of Manchester United, he
is on
  a long-term contract with Manchester United and hence we will keep
him
  at the club."

Cristiano has refused to confirm Man United manager Sir Alex
Ferguson's
  claim he is staying at Old Trafford.

Ferguson met Ronaldo for clear-the-air talks a week ago and on Friday
  Ferguson stated there was no chance that Ronaldo would be quitting
Man
  United for Spain.

But Ronaldo, currently on holiday in America as he recovers from an
  ankle injury, said: "I've had hundreds of questions about Manchester
  United and Real Madrid. What do you want me to say? That i'm going
or i'm
  staying?

"I don't know about the future, only God knows it. I can't say
anymore.
  Great players are always hounded by great clubs. Its a normal
  situation. There are other great players who are in the market who
are good and
  who other clubs want.

"I have always been hounded, not only this year. Its not strange for
me
  to see what happens."

Real Madrid are ready to offer Ronaldo a massive wage hike, while
  United chief executive David Gill ia adamant the winger will not
receive a
  pay rise if he stays at United.

But Ronaldo claims any decision on his future will not be based on
  money.

"I want to be happy regardless of where i play," said Ronaldo. "I can
  be happy everywhere, if i am with people i like, if i am animated,
  motivated.

"Am i motivated to continue at United? I am always motivated. I am
  ambitious and i always want to improve. I don't know the future but
i will
  be motivated."

Manchester United ace Cristiano Ronaldo is hoping to return to
playing football as soon as possible after undergoing ankle surgery
last week.

The Portugal international winger is facing three months on the
sidelines after having had the operation in Amsterdam.

Ronaldo, who has been strongly linked with Real Madrid this summer,
has endured a frustrating summer after Portugal lost 3-2 to Germany
in the quarter-finals of Euro 2008.

However, Ronaldo, speaking ahead of attending the 2008 ESPY Awards in
Los Angeles, is looking forward to a return to action despite only
recently undergoing surgery.

"I'm injured now, but I hope to come back soon," he said. "I love to
play and I love football. I miss the ball now."

Ronaldo has admitted he would like to play in MLS one day, a league
he believes is on the up, although he is keen to remain in Europe for
the moment.

"I prefer to play in Europe at the minute, but in the future, who
knows?" he continued.

"David Beckham and Abel Xavier play there. I've spoken with Abel a
few times and he says it's great. It's great to play here.

"The league it's much better than a few years ago, the future is
getting better and better."

Cristiano has stoked further controversy after insisting he agrees with
  Fifa president Sepp Blatter's comments he is being treated like a
  modern-day slave by Man United.

The £120,000-a-week winger, who is reportedly eager to leave Old
  Trafford for Real Madrid, also denied he had reached any agreement to
join
  the Spanish champions.

After confirming that he will be out of action for up to 12 weeks
  because of his ankle operation, he said: "You know what i said, what i
want
  and what i would like. Lets see. I completely agree with the president
  of Fifa. I have to wait and see but i do not know where i will begin
  the season.

"It is not true that i have an agreement with Real Madrid, there is no
  agreement."

David Beckham has expressed empathy with Cristiano Ronaldo's wish to
  leave Manchester United for Real Madrid.

The LA Galaxy star's comments came after Ronaldo agreed with Fifa
  president Sepp Blatter's claims that United was treating him "like a
  modern-day slave".

Beckham said Real Madrid was the only club he wanted to play for when
  he left Old Trafford.

"You know, living in Madrid and playing for Madrid - there's not many
  clubs like that apart from Manchster United, which is equal," he
said.

"To have those two choices is good for (Ronaldo)."

In an exclusive interview with Sky News, Blatter had earlier said the
  current post-Bosman practice of tying players to long contracts
amounts
  to "modern slavery".

And the player himself - who wants a move to Madrid despite being
under
  contract with United until 2012 - agreed.

Ronaldo told the Portuguese station TVI: "I agree completely with the
  president of Fifa.

"Now I have to wait and see... but I do not know where I will begin
the
  season."

Blatter is urging United and Madrid "to sit together" if Ronaldo wants
  a move to the Spanish club.

"If the player wants to play somewhere else, then a solution should be
  found," he said.

"Because if he stays in a club where he does not feel comfortable to
  play then it's no good for the player and for the club.

"I'm always in favour to protect the player and if the player wants to
  leave, let him leave."

United insists Ronaldo is not for sale, must stay to see out his
  contract and are expecting him to return to their Carrington
training complex
  next week.

Cristiano has returned after this ankle operation. See in our Photo
section how he negotiates his way through Schiphol Airport on crutches.

Cristiano look set to miss the start of the new season after having
  surgery on his right ankle.

Ronaldo, whose future at Man United remains uncertain with continued
  interest from Real Madrid, had the operation in Amsterdam yesterday in
  what the club insisted was a successful procedure.

United said in a statement: "Cristiano Ronaldo underwent surgery to his
  right ankle and the initial indications are that the procedure was
  successful.

"Cristiano will begin his convalescence under the direction of club
  medical staff and an estimation of his return to full fitness will be
  possible following review by the specialist in one month."

I'm back after a week in the Benidorm sun and trying to keep up with
the Ronaldo affair has been an absolute nightmare!! But this report
did strike me after reading the Daily Mirror whilst abroad:

He's famous for leaving defenders stumbling with his football
trickery but this time it looks like Cristiano's the one who has
fallen head over heels.

The wonder winger could not keep his hands off girlfriend Nereida
Gallardo as they cavorted on a beach in Sardinia.

First a grinning Ronaldo splashed in the surf with Nereida, clearly
without a care over the uproar at his other apparent love affair ...
Real Madrid.

Then when his girlfriend flopped on to a sun lounger he hurled
himself on top of her to demand a kiss and a cuddle. Not the first
time he's gone down all too easily when he senses a chance of
scoring!!

But if Cristiano is concerned about his impending showdown with
United boss Sir Alex Ferguson over his outspoken ambition to quit
United for Madrid, he was hiding it very well.

FIFA will not punish Real Madrid over their alleged 'tapping-up' of
  Cristiano Ronaldo.

FIFA has, however, warned the Spanish club of the consequences of
  inducing the Portugal star to breach his contract. Fifa said it
received a
  complaint from Man United last week but no regulations had been broken
  by the Spaniards.

Fifa said: "From the documentation received, no breach of contract
  appears to have occurred yet. Therefore, in accordance with the
applicable
  practice, no kind of formal procedure has been opened by Fifa on this
  matter."

Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon insists that he will not be put
  off Cristiano Ronaldo by any asking price.



Calderon, who has refuted Manchester United's suggestions that his
club
  are trying to unsettle the brilliant Portuguese ace, says money does
  not matter in this instance.


He points to the fact that Real paid nearly £50million for Zinedine
  Zidane, still the biggest transfer fee in football history, yet that
was
  money very well spent.


Real are very much on the trail of Ronaldo and appear confident they
  can get him, and it seems they would be more than willing to smash
the
  world record they paid for Zidane.


"The price is not important," Calderon is quoted as saying in The
Sun.

"We had a player like Zidane who came here for £47m and it was a
  magnificent investment.

"It's not a question of money but a question of efficiency."


United have lodged a formal complaint with Fifa about Real's advances
  for their prized asset - but Calderon says they should be flattered
by
  their interest.

"The case of Cristiano does not affect the image of the club abroad. I
  would be proud if big clubs made multi-million offers for Real Madrid
  players," he said, also stating that Ronaldo will decide his own
future
  and not United.

"In the end, if a player wants to leave - whatever the offer is - he
  will walk. The question is to give him guarantees of success."

Reports in England suggest that Sir Alex Ferguson has told the
United's
  board to make Ronaldo one of the highest paid players in football to
  try and fend off Real.

Sir Alex Ferguson is sure Cristiano Ronaldo will stay at Man United and
has hit out at Real Madrid's pursuit of him.

Madrid are reportedly preparing to table a £70 million bid if the
player states his desire to leave Old Trafford. But Ferguson says the
club will not allow him to leave anyway.

Asked if he was confident that Ronaldo would stay, Sir Alex said: "Yes,
very confident. Its a game Real Madrid have played with us before. They
did it with David Beckham, with Ruud Van Nistelrooy and they did it
with my fitness coach Valter di Salvo.

"In a way, its a compliment to the standard of players that we have at
this club."

Ronaldo, who still has four years of his contract left at United, is
expected to announce his future shortly.

But don't worry ... he'll still be ready for Portugal's first Euro 2008
game. Check out the injury photo in our photos section

Cristiano Ronaldo claims he will make an announcement on his future
  plans in the next two to three days.

The Man United winger has been heavily linked with a move to Real
  Madrid, although United are determined to hold onto him.

Ronaldo, who training with the Portugal squad ahead of Euro 2008, said:
  "I hope there will be news soon. In two to three days, I will announce
  my decision."

If he decides his future lies away from Old Trafford, he would face a
  fight to secure a transfer to Real, who have made no secret of their
  interest.

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson claimed the Glazier family, the club's
  owners, would rather keep the player even if a situation arose where he
  refused to play for them.

Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon has attempted to soothe relations
  with Man United over their pursuit for Cristiano Ronaldo.

"You can't buy what the owner doesn't want to sell," he said. "We have
  not interfered with Manchester United's contract agreement with
  Ronaldo.

"We're sorry that United are annoyed with us because we have nothing to
  do with that aspect. We are not going to influence any player to break
  a contractual relationship. We are not going to start a conflict.

"If a club doesn't want to sell a player, why would he insist they do
  sell him?"

Man United have warned Real Madrid over their public pursuit of
  Cristiano Ronaldo after the Spanish club admitted he was their top
transfer
  target.

Man United issued a statement describing their "growing irritation" at
  continuing comments emerging from the Spanish club conerning their
  interest in the Portugal winger.

The statement said: "Manchester United have watched with growing
  irritation the comments attributed to Real Madrid over their illeged
desire
  to sign Cristiano Ronaldo.

"The facts are the player is on a long-term contract and his
  registration is held by Manchester United. The player is not for
sale. The club
  will have no alternative but to report Real Madrid to Fifa if it
  continues to behave in this totally unacceptable fashion."

Madrid coach Bernd Schuster said: "There are other players we have
been
  looking at but everything has slowed down due to all this Ronaldo
  business, seeing as he is the  big priority for the club.

"He would help us in a lot of ways but we can't stop with just him.
  He'll be expensive and we'll have to pay a lot of money, but we need
more
  players as he won't be enough."

Man United assistant boss Carlos Queiroz has cranked up the row with
  Real Madrid over their interest in Cristiano Ronaldo, dragging an
ancient
  border dispute and explorer Christopher Columbus into the argument.

Queiroz, who like Ronaldo is Portuguese, accused Real of trying to make
  the United player Spanish, claiming Spain did the same with Columbus -
  who both countries claim as their own - and the disputed border of
  Olivenca.

Real have made no secret of their desire to recruit Ronaldo, leading to
  United to threaten to report the Spanish champions to Fifa.

With Portugal preparing for Euro 2008, Queiroz knows the furore
  surrounding Ronaldo's future could not have come at a worse time.

"It is being done in a manner to distract the Portugal team at the
  height of their preparations," said Queiroz.

Cristiano Ronaldo has again claimed he is happy at Man United and
wants
  to remain at Old Trafford.

The Portugal winger has been persistently linked with Real Madrid by
  the Spanish media and has not helped quell the speculation by
announcing
  he has not yet made a decision on his future.

In an interview with Portuguese newspaper Publico, he confirmed he
  would like to play in Spain one day but that he is currently
satisfied with
  life in England.

"There is nothing certain at the moment," said Ronaldo. "The press
  always make stories about interest from other teams. On one hand its
good
  and means they know your value as a player and think you can be a
good
  reinforcement for other teams.

"But my head is in Manchester because it is the club that, at the
  moment, puts me in the best condition and that i'm happy at. Now, as
i've
  said many times, only God knows the future.

"I have never hidden from anyone that I would like to play in Spain
one
  day. Its a dream but sometimes dreams don't happen. I can guarantee i
  am happy at Manchester and i would love to continue."

Manchester United flew home from Moscow but brought with them the
  baggage of another summer of uncertainty surrounding Ronaldo.

Just 13 months after signing a new contract, United's top scorer is
  again being linked with a move to Real Madrid. But United insist
Ronaldo
  is staying.

Asked if he would stay at United, Ronaldo said: "I don't promise
  anything to anyone, even my mum! I want to stay, of course, but no one
knows
  what will happen in the future.

"No one has said anything to me, we will see in the next two weeks. I
  love the people. The players are fantastic. The atmosphere is great.
All
  the staff are great and I feel very happy in the club."

But Real president Ramon Calderon is waiting in the wings and warned
  United, if Ronaldo wants to go, they'll have to sell.

Man United chief executive David Gill insists Cristiano Ronaldo will
  not be leaving the club.

The 40-goal Portugal winger claimed he would reassess his future
  following the Champions League final. But Gill said:

"He's got four more years on his contract, he's been with us for five
  years and we're sure he'll be with us for many years to come. We have
no
  intention of letting him go."

Cristiano Ronaldo admits that he is honoured to be named PFA Player
of the Year for a second time.

The Manchester United winger has now been voted the best player in
the country by his peers for the past two seasons, the first player
to claim back-to-back titles since Thierry Henry managed the feat
back in 2003 and 2004.

The Portuguese superstar has enjoyed a fantastic season in front of
goal, netting 38 times, and could yet fire the Red Devils to a
domestic and European double.

He scooped the prize ahead of Liverpool's Fernando Torres and Steven
Gerrard, Arsenal's Emmanuel Adebayor and Cesc Fabregas and
Portsmouth's David James.

He revealed that he feels privileged to have seen his talents
recognised once again, and hopes that he will get the opportunity to
claim the award again in the future.

"It's obviously a very important award for me," he told Sky Sports.

"I have played in England for five years and I have won two times, so
it's a fantastic moment for me.

"I feel very proud to win this ward again and I want to carry on and
win more."

Worryingly for the opposition defences which he has terrorised on a
regular basis this season, Ronaldo insists that he is still learning
and feels that he is yet to reach his full potential.

"I try and improve every year," he said.

"Not just this year and last season, every year I think I learn
something and I want to keep going like that, I want to learn more.

"I think I am at the right club, with the right people, with the
right players to learn more and improve myself, and I want to carry
on."

The PFA Players' Player of the Year award ceremony is held on Sunday
with six star names vying for the top prize.

Last year's winner Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the nominees along with
Arsenal duo Cesc Fabregas and Emmanuel Adebayor. The trio are also in
the running for the Young Player of the Year prize.

The three are joined by Liverpool pair Steven Gerrard and Fernando
Torres, the Spaniard making the list in his first Premier League
season. Torres is also in the mix for the Young Player of the Year
award.

What are your thoughts? Who would you pick?