Man U. to report Real to FIFA

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MANCHESTER, England (AP) -- Manchester United have lodged an official complaint with FIFA over Real Madrid's attempts to sign Cristiano Ronaldo.


Real Madrid have openly pursued Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo in recent weeks.

United believe they have no alternative after the Spanish champions allegedly continued to pursue the Portugal winger, who has just under four years remaining on his Old Trafford contract.

FIFA confirmed they had received an official request from the European champions to investigate the issue.

Ronaldo has done little to quash the speculation while at Euro 2008 with Portugal and in recent weeks has repeatedly spoken of his desire to play in Spain.

Real would have to pay a world record transfer fee for Ronaldo, who last season helped United win the Premier League and Champions League, scoring a total of 42 goals.

United confirmed the complaint in a statement on their official Web site.

"On 27 May, Manchester United made clear our intention to report Real Madrid to FIFA if they continued to involve themselves in the future of Cristiano Ronaldo," United said on Monday.

"Unfortunately, Real Madrid have not kept their own counsel and the club feels it has no alternative but to make a formal complaint to the world governing body, which it has done today. The precise content and nature will remain confidential."

United coach Sir Alex Ferguson has been infuriated by Real's alleged heavy-handed tactics in trying to attract Ronaldo.

Ferguson has said U.S. sports tycoon Malcolm Glazer, whose family bought United in 2005, is not prepared to sell Ronaldo to a European rival.

"I've had a couple of meetings with the Glazers," Ferguson said last month. "Their attitude is, 'To hell with them.' They'd sit a player in the stand, I'm telling you, absolutely no doubt about it, just to prove a point. Not to give in to these people."