Real Madrid: We'll Sign £100 Million Cristiano Ronaldo

As has been happening for many summers now, Real Madrid has again insisted they will sign winger Cristiano Ronaldo (who scored 41 goals this season) from Manchester United.

Personally, it has driven me mad.

It no doubt has had a similar effect on Sir Alex Ferguson, who is obviously extremely keen to hold onto the player, maybe more than any other player during his tenure at United.

While this may simply be speculation, it still serves to drive Ronaldo from United and into greedy hands in the Bernabeu.

A lot of flak has come Rafa Benitez's way lately over the way he conducted his negotiations over Aston Villa captain and England hopeful Gareth Barry. Villa manager Martin O'Neill has criticized him for being too public, and trying to unsettle Barry.

The same criteria apply to Inter Milan and their treatment of Belarussian Alexander Hleb. Wenger stated that if their alleged tapping up of Hleb continued he would "report them to Fifa."

So why is this case any different?

Everyone knows Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon is desperate to sign Ronaldo. But, I don't think he has the right to publicly announce on nearly every possible occasion that he is confident of signing Ronaldo.

A Bernabeu source said today, "The suggestion coming from Ronaldo's people is that he is not sure United can make good on the promises he has been made, and is starting to wonder if there is anything more he can do in England.

"If he is looking for the next challenge, then it can only come by leaving England and there can be no better club than Real Madrid."

Now that just shouts out to be reported to Fifa.

The same applies to the relentless hunt of Cesc Fabregas. Who do Real Madrid think they are to just come out and announce that the next challenge for these players is in La Liga? La Liga, mind you, are considered by many to be inferior to the English Premiership.

However, like music to the ears of many Manchester United fans, Ronaldo today said, "I'm at the right club, playing with the right players, and I learn things all the time. That's what great about being at United. I improve all the time and I want to improve every season."

Either way Calderon's and Madrid's constant harassing of the Premier League's top stars is, in my opinion, disgraceful. The sooner Fifa crack down on this behavior the better. No matter who you support in England, it's players like Ronaldo and Fabregas who light up the league.

So, Calderon, stick with Raul and rejects like Van Nistelrooy and Heinze. Ronaldo is ours.