Ferguson Slaps Gagging Order on Ronaldo Over Madrid Speculation

Sir Alex Ferguson's concerns about Real Madrid's apparent interest in Cristiano Ronaldo have led to him summoning his player for talks about the importance of not allowing the transfer speculation to affect his performances.

Ferguson believes Madrid are employing a drip-drip approach and he and his assistant, Carlos Queiroz, have both spoken in private to Ronaldo since he returned from a five-day break to Dubai last Friday. They received assurances that he wanted to remain at the club and emphasised how important he was to their future.

Ferguson, who has predicted Ronaldo will soon be recognised as "the greatest player in the world", is understandably anxious because of the Portugal international's stated desire last summer to move to Spain. At the time it was put down to his reaction to being demonised for his part in Wayne Rooney's sending off in the World Cup. Ferguson, however, is aware that the 21-year-old had actually instructed his advisers to explore the possibilities of moving to Real Madrid or Barcelona even before the World Cup started.

It needed all of Ferguson's powers of persuasion to talk him round and since then there have been no signs of Ronaldo pining for a move. On the contrary, he has been United's best player for large parts of the season, winning the Premiership's player of the month award in November and December, and is a serious contender to be named player of the season.

Ferguson is determined to keep him happy - "we only sell players we want to sell," says the United manager - but he is realistic enough to know that the lure of Madrid would be difficult for Ronaldo to turn down if a serious offer came in.

In the meantime he has instructed his player to avoid saying anything in the media that could fuel stories of a potential transfer saga at the end of the season. "I know of the interest of Real Madrid, but I cannot say anything," was all that Ronaldo would say yesterday. "I have spoken about this with Carlos Queiroz and Alex Ferguson and they have forbidden me to talk about Real Madrid. You have to understand that. I don't want any problems."