Sir Alex Ferguson has reiterated that Cristiano Ronaldo will not be leaving Manchester United.
United boss angry about constant Ronaldo rumours
Sir Alex Ferguson has reiterated that Cristiano Ronaldo will not be leaving Manchester United despite further speculation linking the player with a move to Real Madrid.
The Spanish champions have been continuously linked with a move for the Portuguese winger ever since his infamous winking escapade at the 2006 World Cup had seemingly made it impossible for him to return to England.
Further reports over the past week had again suggested that the player's agent had already been in contact with Real over a possible move to the Bernebeu, but Ferguson has been quick to support the views of United's chief executive David Gill by insisting that Ronaldo will not be sold at any price.
Nonsense
"We have never spoken to an agent," Ferguson said.
"David Gill has made that quite clear and he is right.
"This is such a piece of nonsense. Why would we sell Ronaldo?
"Because it is Ronaldo and he is one of our best players, we have to respond to it. We don't want the fans to think that we would even consider it.
"David Gill is absolutely 100 per cent correct. We only sell the players we want to sell."
Coton retires
Sir Alex also denied speculation that Edwin van der Sar is set to combine his playing duties with a coaching role after Tony Coton was forced to announce his retirement on medical grounds.
"Edwin will not be that man," the United boss confirmed.
"He wants to continue as a player, which is a sensible attitude.
"If he starts thinking now about what he is going to do when he is finished it will put a wedge between his goalkeeping performances and his mental approach to it all.
"That is the way we have looked at it."
