Soccer Shorts: Manchester United risk losing Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid after it emerged last night they had turned down the player's wage demands for a new contract, believed to be in the region of £140,000 a week.
United have had two meetings with Ronaldo's agent, Jorge Mendes, but the two sides are still a considerable distance apart in their valuation of the player.
Madrid have made it clear, via strategic leaks to the Spanish press, that Ronaldo is a confirmed target and, with David Beckham soon to be taken off the Bernabeu payroll, they are understood to have the financial muscle to meet Ronaldo's demands and pay him £1 million more a year than United over the next five seasons.
Ferguson reiterated his belief yesterday that Ronaldo was at "the right club" and United's directors have signalled their desire to keep him by drawing up a contract that effectively doubles his wage.
"This is what happens," said Ferguson. "It is a negotiation. We've had a couple of meetings with his agents and it is always the same with every contract you sign with a top player.
"The great thing is that we have him (contracted) until 2010 so there is no desperation about it. It's an amicable arrangement in the sense that we said to Cristiano: 'We'd love you to sign another contract.'
"We spoke to his agents and they were happy. The boy was happy so we are trying to get to the final conclusion and get him signed for another two years, to 2012, which is the right thing for our club."
Spurs at Sevilla
Holders Sevilla will play Tottenham Hotspur as the three Spanish teams in the Uefa Cup quarter-finals were kept apart in yesterday's draw.
Sevilla overcame Shakhtar Donetsk of Ukraine 3-2 on Thursday for a 5-4 aggregate win in the second knockout round, while Tottenham, who have won all their eight matches in the competition this season, saw off Braga of Portugal.
The winners of the Sevilla-Spurs tie will play either Bayer Leverkusen of Germany or Osasuna of Spain in the semi-finals.
Uefa Cup Quarter/Semi-Final Draws- AZ v Werder Bremen, Bayer Leverkusen v Osasuna, Sevilla v Tottenham, Espanyol v Benfica. Ties to be played April 5th and April 12th. Uefa Cup Semi-Final Draw - Espanyol/Benfica v AZ/Werder Bremen; Bayer Leverkusen/Osasuna v Sevilla/Tottenham. Ties to be played April 26th and May 3rd.
McClaren plays safe
Steve McClaren's call-up list for the Euro 2008 qualifiers against Israel and Andorra is more notable for the players he has left out rather than those who traditionally make up the furniture of his squad.
Joey Barton of Manchester City is among those excluded while the return of Aston Villa's Gareth Barry to the international fold seems to have lasted no longer than a second-half outing against Spain.
Shaun Wright-Phillips (Chelsea) is another conspicuous by his absence, having paid the price for a careless performance in the Spaniards' 1-0 victory at Old Trafford.
The Chelsea winger can hardly have any grievances but Barton and Barry are both entitled to feel slightly hard done by, particularly the Aston Villa player at a time when McClaren is without his regular left back, Ashley Cole, and the usual back-up, Wayne Bridge.
ENGLAND SQUAD: Robinson (Tottenham), Foster (Man Utd, on loan at Watford), Carson (Liverpool, on loan at Charlton), Neville (Man Utd), Richards (Man City), Ferdinand (Man Utd), Terry (Chelsea, capt), Woodgate (Real Madrid, on loan at Middlesbrough), Carragher (Liverpool), A Cole (Chelsea), P Neville (Everton), Gerrard (Liverpool), Hargreaves (Bayern Munich), Lampard (Chelsea), Lennon (Tottenham), Parker (Newcastle), Carrick (Man Utd), Dyer (Newcastle), Downing (Middlesbrough), Johnson (Everton), Rooney (Man Utd), Defoe (Tottenham), Bent (Charlton).
