MANCHESTER UNITED have threatened to report Real Madrid to football's world governing body, Fifa, following yet more public courting of Cristiano Ronaldo by the Spanish champions.

Alex Ferguson's accusation that Real "think they can ride roughshod over everyone" received vindication yesterday when the Madrid coach, Bernd Schuster, suggested a world record transfer of the Portugal international plus a deal for Arsenal's Alexander Hleb were virtually complete. That drew another stern rebuke from United last night, with officials echoing Ferguson's belief that Real have crossed a line in their latest attempts to lure the 23-year-old from Old Trafford.

A club statement declared: "Manchester United has watched with growing irritation the comments attributed to Real Madrid over their alleged desire to sign Cristiano Ronaldo. The facts are: 1) The player is on a long-term contract and his registration is held by Manchester United; 2) The player is not for sale.

"The club will have no alternative but to report Real Madrid to the world governing body, Fifa, if it continues to behave in this totally unacceptable fashion.

"These public attempts to unsettle the player are completely against the regulations and the club will not tolerate them any longer. In addition, the club is certain that they are a distraction for the Portuguese national squad as they prepare for the European Championship. No one should be in any doubt that Manchester United will do everything in its power to keep its best players."

Ronaldo, as has been the case for over a week now, adorned the front of the Madrid-based newspaper Marcayesterday accompanied by confirmation from Schuster the United star is Real's transfer priority. Discussing the 42-goal winger as though his signing was a fait accompli, the Real coach claimed Ronaldo had completed his education at Old Trafford and would present no problems - financial or egotistical - for the Spanish champions.

"There are other players we have been looking at but everything has slowed down a little due to all this Cristiano Ronaldo business, seeing as he is the big priority for the club," said Schuster. "The English way has been a perfect education . . . There he has learned to enjoy his football as a complete professional. This means we would get a Cristiano who would arrive here with his lessons learned."

The German coach added: "In this Madrid side, the kid wouldn't create any problems. For the fans this signing would be an amazing explosion similar to what happened here when [David] Beckham arrived. This isn't England, and that change will affect him. We have to be clever about this and sort this problem out for the kid."

Ferguson's irritation at Real's tactics will be shared by his Arsenal counterpart, Arsene Wenger, although the Frenchman is aware of Hleb's desire to leave London. "Cristiano would help us in a lot of ways, without a doubt, but we can't stop with just him," Schuster said. " . . . we need more players because he won't be enough. For a few months we have had a plan and we know what we want, but Alexander Hleb has been added to that plan. We didn't know he would be able to leave Arsenal, but now it seems he will."

Guardian Service