Reports emanating from Spain suggested earlier today that Ronaldo was on the verge of completing a move to the Spanish outfit after the Merengues reached a "principle of agreement" with their British counterpart.However, The Red Devils have denied such reports and stressed their wish to retain the services of the Portuguese star, who was a pivotal piece in their 2007/08 Champions league success.

"It is utter nonsense and totally laughable. Cristiano Ronaldo is not for sale," a Manchester United spokesperson said.

Ronaldo, currently on vacation in Sintra, refused to comment on his future when quizzed by TV station TVI two days ago.The 23-year-old is undergoing a treatment for an ankle injury, after which the club will decide whether Ronaldo will have to be operated upon.

Dimitar Berbatov has reappeared at the top of Manchester United's transfer list after the Red Devils gave Sir Alex Ferguson the nod to pursue the  £30million-rated striker. Ferguson tried to sign Berbatov last summer, but Tottenham refused to sell their man. The White Hart Lane club is still reluctant to let him go and have placed the whopping £30m price tag on his head to deter suitors. However, the United boss is ready to make a fresh £23m bid in an effort to team him up with Wayne Rooney.

Sir Alex, who returns to work before the United squad arrives back for pre-season training, claims he is unlikely to buy more than one player this summer. He said: "There could be some dialogue, but I wouldn't think any more than one player. I'm looking at one or two things."

"People think it's easy to buy players nowadays but it's not money plays a big part. Clubs with ambition don't want to sell their best players so it's not as easy as you think. We tend to look for younger ones.”

Manchester United are also linked with Bayern Munich's Bastian Schweinsteiger.In the event that Cristiano Ronaldo does leave, United will probably get Robinho and Sergio Ramos in exchange. Louis Saha and Mikael Silvestre are believed to be heading towards the end of their Manchester United careers.

Harrison was responsible for nurturing a host of players through the United youth system including Paul Scholes, the Neville brothers, Nicky Butt , Wes Brown and Ryan Giggs, and still has a minor role at the club.

The coach was speaking about the Ronaldo saga which looks likely to conclude with the winger leaving United and heading for Real Madrid. 

Having watched Alex Ferguson rebuild his side a number of times after allowing key players to leave, Harrison is convinced he can do it again should Ronaldo leave. 

“Bryan Robson, Ince, Kanchelskis, and Hughes were all great players,” said Harrison in the Manchester Evening News, “But Ronaldo will be harder to replace because there is no one in the juniors to do it.”

Harrison revealed that allowing players to leave in the past hadn’t caused too many problems but that it might be a problem now. He said: “Back then we had the golden generation. We were always confident they would eventually play in the first team, it was a matter of when.”

With no juniors at Manchester United capable of following in Ronaldo’s footsteps, Harrison admitted that there was only one man United should attempt to replace the Portuguese winger with.

He said: “Ronaldo is probably the best player in the world right at the moment. If you were twisting my arm, I’d say the only guy who can replace him is Messi and there are no guarantees that Barcelona will be willing to sell him. That means it might be a more difficult situation.”

Former Manchester United playing hero Eric Cantona cannot understand why Cristiano Ronaldo would want to leave Old Trafford, insisting that the Red Devils are the "perfect" club for the Portuguese winger.

With speculation intense about the future of Cristiano Ronaldo, Manchester United legend Eric Cantona has weighed in with his opinion, the Frenchman, now an actor, questioning what the player could find at Real Madrid that United can't offer.

In an interview with Sport magazine, Cantona said: "I do not know his personality. I do not know why he would want to do this [go to Madrid].

"It can be good reasons. If he says that he needs a new challenge, then maybe, yes, he is young. But if he goes not for that reason - for other reasons - then I think he is wrong."

Cantona added: "He is the best player in the world - an artist. He is the best player in the world at one of the best clubs in the world.

"The way United play is perfect for him and the way he plays is perfect for United. It is a perfect situation."

Asked in the interviewe whether he himself had ever considered putting in a transfer request to United when he was at Old Trafford, Cantona answered: "Me? Never. I could never play for another club.

"But I am a different personality. I was 30 years old when I decided to retire."

Carlos Queiroz has blasted Real Madrid for their continual efforts encouraging Cristiano Ronaldo to break his contract with Manchester United.

Sir Alex Ferguson's No 2 has always advised the Portuguese star against pursuing his 'dream move' to the Bernabeu and to spurn Real's advances .

"Contracts are becoming meaningless in football, for players and managers. It is now often a case of dog eat dog," Queiroz said.

His comments could appear unsettling for Ferguson who has made no secret that the Portugese coach is a possible contender to succeed him at Old Trafford.

Queiroz has recently be linked to Scolari's old job with the Portuguese national side as well as Benfica, but when asked about his future plans he said: "I've been in the game too long to plan with any certainty beyond today.

"I take nothing for granted. Sir Alex will be around for the next two or three seasons and a lot can happen in football in that time.

"But in all likelihood I will be in South Africa with United for their pre-season tour."

United's chief executive David Gill has once again this week reiterated the simple fact that Ronaldo is not for sale - a point he will no doubt repeat to Real's president Ramon Calderon when they will see each other at a meeting of Europe's leading clubs on July 7.

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There appears to be mixed news for English and European champions Manchester United on the transfer front, at least as far as targeted strikers are concerned.

United have been told that Blackburn Rovers striker Roque Santa Cruz is not for sale following the appointnent of United old-boy Paul Ince as manager at Ewood.  But Dimitar Berbatov could become a Red Devil when his future is resolved within the next fortnight.

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has been an admirer of Berbatov for some time, and with Spurs boss Juande Ramos willing to let the ambitious striker leave, Old Trafford has long seemed a likely destination. 

Ferguson has also been linked with a swoop for Paraguayan star Santa Cruz, who was a revelation for Blackburn in his first season in English football.

Tottenham are believed to have told Berbatov he must let them know by the middle of July whether or not he intends to stay at White Hart Lane for next season.

Ramos will be anxious to bring in a replacement if he knows the Bulgarian international wants to leave; hence the deadline for letting him know.

But new Rovers boss Ince has made it clear his priority is to keep his best players, and he will be pulling out the stops to ensure Santa Cruz and want-away winger David Bentley commit themselves to Blackburn when he holds planned talks with both players.

Ferguson is known to be seeking a reliable target-man, with injury-plagued Louis Saha expected o leave Old Trafford.

The great Cristiano Ronaldo transfer saga has stirred millions of words and some mind-boggling numbers. Real Madrid's president, Ramon Calderon, insisted yesterday his club "will never pay 100m euros for anybody", adding that "Manchester United do not want to sell".

The headline statistics of Ronaldo's five seasons at Old Trafford highlight why United are so determined to cling to the double Footballer of the Year and why Madrid so covet him (even if they refuse to give United twice what they handed Juventus for Zinedine Zidane in 2001). They also show he is a glittering comet still on the rise.

In 196 United starts (plus 43 sub appearances), Ronaldo found the net 92 times, a remarkable return, particularly for someone who spends a lot of time out wide. With 42 goals last term, including one in the Champions League final, Ronaldo is the most widely admired player on the planet, succeeding Kaka. He occasionally infuriates with his wounded thespian impression in front of referees (unlike the more dignified Brazilian), but the essence of Ronaldo is that he entertains and scores.

United want him to stay. "We can wrap the player in all the care and attention he deserves," said Sir Alex Ferguson's No?2, Carlos Queiroz, yesterday. Barcelona's Xavi argued that La Liga would "gain as a spectacle" if Ronaldo arrived. Another Spain international had a different take on the saga. "If Ronaldo left [United] it would be great," joked Liverpool's Alvaro Arbeloa. "I hope he goes. I hope they [Real] make an effort."

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The National Aids Secretariat (NAS) on Wednesday 18th June held a press briefing at the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) Academy in Kingtom to inform the public about plans to launch the Manchester United supported HIV and AIDS campaign in Sierra Leone.

In his statement, the Programme Manager of NAS, Dr. Momodu Sesay disclosed that the prevalence of HIV in Sierra Leone is presently1.6%. He said in actual fact there is an estimated 48.000 people living with HIV in the country. He disclosed that there has been a massive increase in the percentage when comparing the 2002 national prevalence of 0.9%, which means there is over 60% increase. He said Antenatal Clinic sentinel surveillance for pregnant women is almost showing a rise in the rate of the infection among the general population. He assured the press that NAS would continue to partner with any group gearing towards combating the pandemic in the country.

In this bid, he added, HIV testing is now available in over 200 sites nationwide and treatment for both children and adults is available in 82 centers in the country at free cost. He thanked UNICEF and the Manchester United Football Club in England for the initiative and support.

Also to speak was the UNICEF Representative, Geert Carppeleary. He disclosed that the Man-Utd Football Club specifically chose Sierra Leone to launch its HIV/AIDS campaign. He said since 2006 when the club donated funds to UNICEF in Sierra Leone in order to provide HIV/AIDS sensitization among youths, the partnership between the two started. He said the campaign is fully centered on football and sports. He said the official launching would be held at the National Stadium Main Bowl on Saturday 21st June 2008.

New Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari has warned Manchester United that "they can do nothing to hurt" Cristiano Ronaldo as Real Madrid reveal they are prepared to smash the world transfer record to lure the Portuguese winger from Old Trafford.

Madrid manager Bernd Schuster said the Spanish champions would "pay whatever it takes" to sign the Portugal international, which could mean a contract offer of £182,000-a-week after tax and a transfer fee of £80 million, nearly double the biggest transfer in football history that saw Zinedine Zidane joined Madrid from Juventus for £46m in 2001.

Ronaldo is expected in Manchester this week for an assessment on a foot injury, though no meetings are scheduled with United's hierarchy - both Sir Alex Ferguson and chief executive David Gill are on holiday and have no plans to rush back to make any fresh appeal to the club's star player.

However, Scolari's comments concerning the player's future destination will not have impressed Ferguson, especially given the fact that the Brazilian and his new employers in west London will be the ones to benefit most should the player decide to join Madrid.

"It is his [Ronaldo's] dream to play for Real Madrid," said the departing Portugal national team manager. "And I am sure Cristiano will fulfil his dream whatever the difficulties."

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Manchester United slapped a 'not for sale' sign on striker Cristiano Ronaldo Friday following the Portuguese international striker's most recent bid to pave the way towards joining Real Madrid.

Ronaldo has been linked with the nine-times European champions since he hinted at a move to Real five days before United's triumph over Chelsea in the Champions League final on May 21.

And after Portugal were ousted from the Euro 2008 Thursday following a 3-2 defeat to Germany, the 23-year-old said he would announce his future intentions in "two to three days".

However United have moved quick to quell speculation of a big-money move for their coveted star, and appear to have dug their heels in over the issue in a statement on their website.

"Further to Friday's press speculation about where Cristiano Ronaldo's future lies, the club has moved to reiterate its stance on the matter: United are not listening to offers," said the statement.

"Ronaldo has continually been linked with a move to Spanish side Real Madrid this summer.

"However, the club reaffirmed its position to ManUtd.com on Friday morning. And the message is simple: the 23-year-old United star is 'not for sale'."

Ronaldo told reports after Thursday's defeat: "There will be news in the coming days.

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