Calderon - 'We still respect United'

Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon has rubbished reports that they have an agreement in place to take Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo to the Bernabeu next summer, insisting the issue is "totally dead".

The Madrid supremo also responded to Sir Alex Ferguson's latest attack of the Spanish giants by claiming they would not be entering into a mud-slinging contest with the Old Trafford outfit.

Ferguson has been a fierce critic of Madrid for their part in this summer's long-running transfer saga involving Ronaldo, and the Scotsman vented his anger again yesterday following fresh speculation linking the Primera Liga champions with the Portuguese winger.

It was claimed in a Spanish newspaper earlier this week that a Madrid director, Pedro Trapote, was quoted as saying there was an agreement in place for Madrid to sign the Ballon D'Or winner at the end of the season, to which Ferguson responded yesterday: "I would not sell them a virus."

Calderon today dismissed the possibility of a deal having been struck for Ronaldo though, telling the club's website, realmadrid.com : "Manchester United did not accept the transfer of Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid this summer. From this moment Real Madrid focused on other objectives.

"It is absolutely false that there exists any agreement with Manchester United about this business, of which I am tired. The matter is totally dead and as such I don't want to talk about it anymore."

Calderon, who has been the target of most of Ferguson's ire, also responded to the latest comments made by the Red Devils boss about Madrid.

"Our club's code of conduct does not include insults, contempt, or a lack of respect to our opponents. Maybe for this reason Real Madrid are respected in all corners of the world," Calderon said.

"It is sad that a professional with the career of Mr Ferguson can make declarations like these, in addition to some of the other unfortunate things in the last few months.

"Despite that, Real Madrid will never respond with a lack of respect to Manchester United, to any of their directors, nor of course to their fans, for whom everyone has the greatest of respect."