Why Bayern Munich's red rubber duck has boosted Manchester United's chances of resigning Cristiano Ronaldo

Bayern took the unusual step of sharing a picture of a red rubber duck on their website, to hammer home the point that rumours linking the club with Ronaldo were 'completely unfounded'

Bayern Munich have no interest in the 32-year-old (Getty and fcbayern.com)

Bayern Munich have emphatically denied they will attempt to sign Cristiano Ronaldo this summer, describing reports that they are in talks with Real Madrid as “a dead duck”.

Ronaldo has reportedly told his Portugal teammates that he is "determined" to walk away from Madrid and “there is no going back”, after it first emerged on Friday morning that he wants to leave the club.

According to Portuguese daily A Bola, the 32-year-old, who is currently on international duty with Portugal for the Confederations Cup, has been left angered at his treatment by Spanish tax authorities and now wishes to leave the country.

Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester United and Bayern Munich have all been linked with the four-time Ballon d’Or winner, but the German club have now made it clear they have no desire to make an offer for the player.

“Conveniently in German, the word “Ente” means both a duck and a hoax, which is why at fcbayern.com we will be bringing you the “Hoax of the day” presented by Franz the Bayern duck,” a short statement on their website read, along with a picture of a red rubber duck.

“Rumours about FC Bayern swirl around the world daily via printed press, social media and whispers," it continued.

“Digital technology means news is spread with great speed, but sometimes stories come out that are simply not true.”

As if that wasn’t clear enough, the club’s executive committee chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge then gave an interview in which he said the notion of Bayern signing Ronaldo should be “consigned to the realms of fantasy”.

“We’re used to being the subject of intense transfer speculation during transfer windows,” he said.

“Normally we don’t comment on rumours, but in this case, we would like to make our position on Cristiano Ronaldo absolutely clear: This rumour is completely unfounded and must be consigned to the realms of fantasy.”

Ronaldo is widely expected to return to United over the coming weeks, with the odds of a move being slashed from 12/1 to as short as 2/1 in the last 12 days.