Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon admits he can do little more as the club wait for Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo to decide on his future.
The Portuguese star has been tracked by Real all summer, although United are adamant they are not prepared to sell the man whose goals helped them to Barclays Premier League and Champions League glory last season.
Ronaldo has refused to confirm whether his future lies at Old Trafford or the Bernabeu and Calderon has once again claimed that his club are little more than spectators in the matter.
"Look, this is a problem that wasn't created by Real Madrid," he told Spanish sports daily AS.
"That which is exaggerated or not about this signing is down to those who've given it as read that the deal is closed and not by us.
"Madrid are just spectators in this soap opera.
"At the moment Manchester United and the player are in an argument and Madrid are waiting...and we can't do any more for the time being.
"Obviously, it's clear that we want Cristiano with the quality that he has. But there is a contractual problem that United and the player have to resolve, not us.
"Will he persuade the club to let him go? I can't say that. That question's for the player, who has publicly said his dream is to play for Madrid.
"We hear those words with pride and satisfaction, but his departure doesn't only depend on Cristiano. United are the ones that have to sort it out and it will either happen or not."
Ronaldo, who is recovering from ankle surgery, is yet to return to Manchester, but Calderon believes when he finally does it could be decisive for player and club.
"It could happen then, but it's true that we have to wait developments," he continued.
"Everyone's thinking so much about this matter that people can get confused and I understand that they're fed up.
"They (United and Ronaldo) will talk next week and if after this conversation United decide to sell him, then of course Madrid will be there."
Madrid have publicly courted Ronaldo all summer, to the Premier League side's fury.
United reported the Spanish giants to FIFA, but Calderon insists his club have nothing to feel guilty about.
"I would like to remind everyone that Madrid didn't generate this expectation but the player himself," he added. "The club has been respectful.
"(To want to sign him) is a natural and logical desire, equal to that of Chelsea wanting Robinho and (Iker) Casillas or United wanting Sergio Ramos. We didn't blow this all up. The club at which I'm president sleeps with a clear conscience."
Madrid know a world-record fee would have to be paid to bring Ronaldo to the Bernabeu.
There was talk of selling Robinho to offset some of the cost, with Chelsea admitting they were interested in the Brazilian, or using him as part of swap deal for Ronaldo - an idea which infuriated the Madrid star.
Coach Bernd Schuster is adamant that Robinho will remain at the club next season, and Calderon claims there is no reason to offload him.
"The coaches believe they (Ronaldo and Robinho) are compatible and Madrid don't need to raise funds to buy," he continued. "To sign Cristiano we don't need to sell anyone and even less so Robinho. It's not like that at all.
"I don't have any reason to think that Robinho is unhappy. Schuster adores him, his team-mates want him and last year he was very happy at the Bernabeu.
"If he wasn't happy and wanted to leave we wouldn't fight to change his mind. But I don't think that's the case.
"It's absurd to plan someone's transfer if they're happy and I firmly believe that."
If Ronaldo does go to the Primera Liga champions there has been talk of massive pay package, but the Real chief insists that is not one of the reasons the 23-year-old is so desperate for a move to the Bernabeu.
"Look, when a footballer leaves a big club it's not for the money," said Calderon.
"They leave because they're not happy with what's around them, the sporting project, their family life, the coach and his decisions...
"In that case it's better to let them leave.
"I don't want a single player in my Madrid who's unhappy. But we have the good fortune that in this Madrid the 25 we have are happy."
Your Comments
Kopoffwivyrwife
"i cant say i like calderon, but we all know that at some point r clubs have been guilty of the same. utds fans r only wounded bcos ronaldos made the look like a small time club relative to madrid. but the fact remains that utd have done the same to other clubs as have liverpool chelsea and arsenal. if r clubs have the arrogance to treat other clubs in this manner, then we shud have the good grace not to slag foreign clubs off when the gloves on the other hand"
coolbyrne
"glendvd- best post ever in this long and boring story. AND AN OWL!"
4EverOffside
"What's all the confusion over what is or isn't tapping up? FIFA Regulations on Status and Transfer of Players, Article 17, Subsection 5, clearly states: "Any person subject to the FIFA Statutes and regulations (club officials, players¿ agents, players, etc.) who acts in a manner designed to induce a breach of contract between a professional and a club in order to facilitate the transfer of the player shall be sanctioned." It seems fairly clear by any reasonable reading of the plain English that any direct statement of interest in acquiring another team's player could be viewed as an attempt to induce that player to breach his contract. FIFA's interpretation that no violation has occurred until the player actually breaches his contract ignores the plain English of the rule and reveals the real reason why all this tapping up occurs. No one in authority really wants to stop it. I know American football is set up differently, but the fact is nothing like this would ever happen in the NFL because the rules against it are clear and enforced. No NFL coach or owner will ever comment on how much they would like to get a player from another team, without that other team's permission. The sanctions would be swift and painful."
miked
"Jeepow you have to understand that Real Madrid have no morals or conscience and never have done. Calderon would not know what shame was, it doesn't enter into their minds that what any other party (be it a club a player or an organisation) wants is relevant to them if it goes against what they wish to do. This was the club that created the glorious image of European club competition but out of the gloved hand of a fascist dictator and built itself an ego so large it does whatever it wants to at any moment in time including giving money to their racist and violent Ultra groups. The only good thing about Real is the city they live in and the real estate value of their stadium. They are vile evil creatures and their fans are quiet, moronic, seemingly ignorant about football. I truly hope Ronaldo goes there and they crash and burn. Calderon and Mijatovic will fall and the next pair of clown president and clown ex-player DoF will arrive. It was the same under Perez and Butragueno and others before even them."
magpier13
"We've known this for long,that Man U is a one man guiter kind of ateam and letting Christiano go would be suicidial. If the boy is tired of chasing those long balls,let him go where he feels he'll be playing total entertaining football. Sir Ferguson should stop behaving like a father who refuses to let his daughter get married to the person of her choice.Christiano loves madrid period."
reddevil81
"Gooner 17.... u plank, thats the funny thing about most young Arsenal fans, you know sweet FA with your Gunner tinted spectacles./....RTS1999...you are right but none of us should be using this story to aim cheap shots at each others clubs. Calderon is a moron...tapping up is exactly what he and Real Madrid have been doing...many other clubs including ALL of the BIG FOUR have done the same in the past and recently. The crux of the matter is that Calderon and Blatter should not be allowed to hold such positions in Football. They are discredit to all the coaches and players who make the game great and who do not have the same media influence. Speaking of the media...when are any of the papers and websites going to employ reporters and writers who can actually write in English??...Yawn...I think the media is just as bad as Calderon!!"
darn7
"Well you can't blame him for scraping as much money out of Robinho as possible, looks likely Ronaldo's not going anywhere, and Robinho was upset to be deemed only a fraction of the player Ronaldo is as far as transfers go... So best option is to price him ridiculously so if he does stay he feels valued, if he leaves you're minted."
jeepow
"..."at the moment manchester united and the player are in an argument"..."this is a problem that wasn't created by Real Madrid"..."Madrid are just spectators in this opera"...Calderon is a pathological liar whose club's fans should be ashamed of his behaviour.I absolutely dread seeing the man's name in a headline,it invariably signals a story that's been planted somewhere in a blatant attempt to destabilise one player or another. As for Madrid talking up their financial clout and ability to buy Ronaldo without selling first to raise funds - isnt this the same club that were slapped on the hand a couple of weeks back for lodging a bid for Rafael van der Vaart that Hamburg found insultingly low? And has attempted to squeeze every last cent out of Chelsea since they declared an interest in Robinho? Does this man's capacity for talking shite know no bounds?"
englishtim
"Well i must say i'm bored like everyone else with this will he wont he saga, but if we examine the real reason for calderon's continued talk with the tabloids, we find that he was elected to office by fans on the promise of signing kaka and fabregas of which he has failed to deliver, ronaldo represents one last chance for him to avoid the anger of the very fans who appointed him. Should he fail to land Ronaldo bringing Vandervart and or Villa will do little to secure his position, can anyone forget the chants of Kaka when he unvieled robben last year! I personally think that ronaldo should go but realistically he will depart in january or july next year in an exchange deal with Sergio Ramos. Real will have their man at a priice and Ronaldo will have moved to a club that will ultimately be his downfall as a player, as unike united real will not build a team around his style of football. "
Mutid
"But what a fool believes he sees, no wise man has the power to reason away. What seems to be, is always better than nothing, and nothing at all keeps sending him..."
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